Brazil is the largest worldwide producer of sisal, exporting some 113,000 metric tons per year. Most of the sisal producers are small farms in the dry, arid climate of northeast Brazil. This area is also home to some of the 30 million Brazilians  living in rural poverty. According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development,

Poor communities [are subject to] disadvantaged conditions and degraded environments [...] Education and health facilities are not readily available, and water supply and sewage systems are generally inadequate. Poor communities have extremely limited access to technology, and infrastructure is inadequate.

In the early 1980s, with this reality facing his own community in the state of Bahia, farmer Ismael Ferreira de Oliveira set out to change the status quo. The cooperative farming organization that he founded, APAEB (Association of Small Farmers of the State of Bahia), now generates annual revenue of more than $7 million and provides economic, social and educational opportunities for residents of the community. The organization has successfully reversed the regional trend of falling sisal production, and has increased the market value of sisal by producing finished products and harnessing the power of collective selling.

Merida is proud to partner with this organization and its 800 workers by investing in and purchasing select sisal products. Our weaving specialists are working with APAEB technicians to update equipment and demonstrate innovative weaving techniques, and we have also visited the community’s school, library and computer labs, all of which help the young people in the community connect to and learn from the outside world.

One of the more interesting sustainable developments APAEB has made is an innovative use for “waste” material. When sisal fibers are extracted from the plant, a large amount of pulpy vegetable matter is left over. To take advantage of this protein-rich substance, APAEB farmers mix it with pulp from cactus leaves and feed it to dairy goats that live on the farms. The result is a closed loop, zero-waste system that is highly profitable for the organization.

Just last week we received a large shipment of one of our most popular products, Kona Black Walnut, from this supplier. Order this renewable and sustainable product today and you’ll have a beautiful rug and a great story too!

More APAEB Photos

Tags: eco friendly, sustainable design

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 17th, 2009 by Zairo and is filed under Company, Sustainability. Both comments and pings are currently closed.