Sustainable Spice
Ceylon Organic Spice Exports (COSE) is a Fair Trade Organisation whose mission is to improve the economic status of small-scale Sri Lankan spice farmers.

A typical farmer selling spices to COSE has around half an acre on which to grow spices and all the vegetables his family needs. COSE pays them at least 50% above what they could receive in the local market for their spices, and up to half is paid in advance so the farmers can meet production expenses. A Common Savings Fund, set up by COSE, is now managed by the family groups, for use during emergencies.

Sun drying and packaging is done mainly by women with little or no other source of income, who also earn 50% more than they could get doing other work in the region. In addition COSE provides school books and uniforms for the farmers’ and workers’ children.

The farmers’ small spice plots are grown organically, however many still use synthetic fertilisers in their vegetable plots. COSE arranges regular visits by agricultural experts to provide free training on organic production for their vegetables, as a step to securing a more healthy future, free from dependency on multinational fertilizer companies. Their education courses, run by government appointed agricultural officers, cover improving farming methods, productivity enhancement, sustainable development and environmental conservation.