2010/2011 Chilli Mid-Season Update and Highlights
The Better Trading Company is working together in a partnership with the Elephant Pepper Company in managing the production and the export of Tabasco® Chillies in Zimbabwe. This successful collaboration was launched mid 2009 and has progressed in leaps and bounds in the past two years due to the dedication and passion of our team on the ground in Zimbabwe along with a group of conscientious and meticulous growers.
This season, 218 growers have been growing Tabasco® Chillies for TBTC. It is expected to supply roughly 85 tons of product to the Elephant Pepper Company. Martin Bepete (Better Agriculture) has done phenomenal work in building up trust, respect and confidence in a community who were new to the concept and crop. To witness the quality of crop and this relationship between Martin and the growers which has been built up with many challenges in a short time is humbling. "The chillies are suitable for these soils, it is a good crop. This is our first crop (of chillis). Martin (Better Ag) is helping a lot with ideas, how to work it and make it grow – all the supervision. He is always behind us." Chilli Grower – Enoch Mandiwata March 2011
There is a sense of community amongst the growers which is inspiring and demonstrates the essence of the people involved. One such example is that of Emma Nyamaropa. In December Emma was called away suddenly to deal with a family crisis just after planting. She was away for nearly two months during the critical growing season. In her absence her neighbours tended, watered and weeded her crop in good faith so that on her return she had a bumper crop to harvest. The majority of the chilli farmers are women and with the added skills and revenue they are gaining -and will continue to gain, it is a real empowerment story that with the right investment, has huge potential to scale up. With each farmer responsible for on average 7 people this fixed price, cash in hand crop paid on a two weekly basis over a few months helps immensely with paying school fees and buying other essentials to sustain a family.
The sustainable farming methods which the growers have been taught to use for the chillis are being used in farming their other crops now too, thus minimising the impact on the environment especially from a water point of view. Chillis are currently being harvested and grinding is well underway. Two new grinders were purchased via TBTC and are located at two central locations within walking distance of the growers. All is looking positive for a successful season.
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