Paraguay is one of the world’s poorest countries. The indigenous population barely manages to sustain their livelihoods. Manduvirá is a local smallholders’ cooperative that was founded in 1975 to support small-scale farmers in their sale of sugar cane. Around 900 sugar farmers are members of the organisation. Over the years, it has obtained many certifications, including Fairtrade, organic and Demeter. Thanks to its partnership with Manduvirá, HALBA can ensure a transparent and direct supply chain.
Since 2015, HALBA has sourced its entire supply of certified organic and Fairtrade cane sugar from the Manduvirá cooperative. This direct supply relationship provides HALBA with full transparency in its supply chain. HALBA procures not only quality Fairtrade and organic sugar but also supports the cooperative by paying for 70 per cent of the value of all purchased goods in advance. This allows the farmers to start their production without being fully dependent on local loans.
