Wuppertal Small Farmer Co-operative

The Wuppertal community is located around a Moravian mission station about 75km east of Clan William. The mission was founded in 1865 and has acted as a magnet for refugees for many years. Mission communities were a traditional shelter for those trying to escape apartheid.

A number of Eucalyptus trees around the mission had been felled in a programme to remove non indigenous trees and protect the water table. These large trees spread rapidly down river banks and remove much of the available water.

The community grows vegetables on the fertile soil around the mission, whilst most of the farmers grow Rooibos and keep a few sheep at their homes in the outlying hamlets. Expert irrigation of fields using natural springs enables secondary crops of fruit and vegetables in the otherwise barren landscape.

Fairtrade Benefits

Over 200 small farmers are now part of the Wuppertal Co-operative. Due to the success of the co-operative and Fairtrade, the population of the community is now growing with the return of the younger people from Capetown wishing to participate in the running of the co-operative.

Fairtrade has provided financial stability through pre-finance, underpinning the co-operative goals.

Effective management of the Wuppertal community, who work tirelessly to support and improve their member’s lives, has enabled their business to grow and the livelihoods of those involved to thrive. 

The sense of pride and empowerment the Fairtrade premiums and the co-operative movement have given to our farmers is tangible.