FEPP-Camari
Before addressing what Camari is, it is important to discuss the
Fondo Ecuatoriano Populorum Progressio FEPP (Popular
Ecuadorian Progress Fund), a private social institution funded by the Episcopal
Ecuadorian Conference, which since 1970 has supported small Ecuadorian producers
with credit, instructional courses, and technical assistance.
In 1981
Camari was born as an accessory organization to the actions of the FEPP to deal
with the problems facing the commercialization of the farming, fishing and
artisanal sectors ofEcuador's
small producer economy. As it was understood from the start that production
could be aided through the offering of credit, instructional courses and
technical assistance, Camari was created as an organization for the future and
not simply to deal with the bottleneck of problems at the time.
For the small producers, the
commercialization of their wares has been the principle obstacle to their
economic prosperity - there had simply always been a large number of those
looking to take advantage whether they were the vendors, intermediaries,
moneylenders, transporters or all of the above.
Camari, as an organization, has
passed through 3 primary phases:
During its start up phase from
1981 to 1986, Camari was characterized and guided by a strong social vision,
focusing on the commercialization of artisanal products within the borders of
Ecuador.
Between 1987 and 1990, Camari
developed a stronger business perspective and opened itself to the international
market with artisanal and agricultural products.
Finally, from 1991 to the
present, Camari has developed an equilibrium between commercial and social gains
with an emphasis placed on the bettering of the quality and productivity of its
products and services for clients both within and without Ecuador.
In 2001, Camari adopted the
Sistema de Gestión de la Calidad (SGC) (Quality Management System) and in December 2002
received the international certificate of quality ISO 9001 version
2000.
In
terms of furthering institutional growth, in 2003 Camari made the move from the
Foundation a Comercializadora Solidaria Camari-FEPP. (Assistive Commercialization
Foundation Camari-FEPP) to become part of the Grupo Social FEPP (Social Group
FEPP).
Camari
Locations
, Relationships
MISSION
Camari is a system of national
sustainable commercialization, based on the principles of assistive
commercialization and those of Grupo Social FEPP, working to improve the living
conditions of small producers through assistance with their production methods
and commercialization of their wares while satisfying the needs of internal and
external clients with quality products and services.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
POLICY
At Camari, we deal only in high quality agricultural,
fishing and artisanal products, honestly and efficiently achieving the satisfaction of
clients and small producers, continually improving our processes, products and services and
aiming for a social and commercial equilibrium based on leadership and
competition.
PRINCIPLES AND VALUES
The principles and values of Camari are steeped in the principles and values of
FEPP and alternative trade:
- Assure an
equilibrium between economic sustainability and social service.
-
Promote the commercialization of products that are not harmful to the
environment or people.
- Manage
seamlessly and honestly the act of commercialization.
- Promote
the personal development of small producers and their employees.
- Maintain
and develop the poor's bargaining power.
METHODS
Commercialization
of agricultural and fishing products: dry grains, powders, flours,
industrialized goods. Biological products: granulated brown sugar, dried wild
mushrooms, cereals, coffees, chocolate and vegetables. Camari also works to
strengthen the commercialization of organic products and to assist small
producers in their orientation to this new system of production.
Commercialization
of artisanal products made from: balsa wood, wool, cotton, wood, leather,
silver, porcelain, oils and regional materials, mazapan, tagua, lufa, straw,
damagua, piquigua, rampira and mate. These handicrafts are generally fashioned
from primary, original materials such as those listed
above.
Camari also provides
assistance in product listing,
instruction and technical assistance in the managing of post-production,
transformation and commercialization.
AVENUES OF
DISTRIBUTION
-
Within
the country, products arrive directly to the customer through point of sale
venues located in the major cities:
Quito
,
Riobamba
,
Latacunga, Francisco de Orellana, Nueva Loja y Esmeraldas. The majority of
sales are to private and public institutions, commissaries, hospitals, hotels,
businesses, and shops.
- Outside
of Ecuador, products are sold to alternative trade organizations in
Europe, North America,
andJapan, as well
as to conventional market clients
in these countries.
PRODUCERS
The world of Camari producers is
over 6,500 families strong from second tier organizations (OSG), small groups
and individuals, from the country and cities, distributed across 18
of Ecuador's
22 provinces.
WHAT CAMARI EXPECTS FROM SMALL
PRODUCERS
-
High quality products and services and well-managed production schedules such that
products arrive on time and where they are in the highest demand.
- Constant improvements, access to new technologies and a flexible infastructure which
permits rapid adaptation to a changing marketplace, new designs and
competitive prices.
- Clearly
defined socio-political roles within the management of the organization,
divided amongst technical, administrative, productive and commercialization
roles within the micro-enterprise.
- Diversification
of production within the market, so as to create new possibilities for work
and sales in order to improve returns. This means willingness to take risks, innovate
and create to reduce competition for the same product and achieve superior
access to the marketplace.
Project:
E-Commerce for Small
Producers of Agricultural, Fishing and Artisanal Products , paid for by
FOMIN-BID-FIA/CAMARI.
Current project:TIC in
Camari , paid for by
IICD/CAMARI.
Camari