In 1994, accompanied by INTA and the Cambio Rural program, a group of missionary farmers founded the Cooperativa Yerbatera Dos de Mayo Ltda, which now and after almost three decades of work produces, processes and packs yerba mate. exports more than 90% of the tea produced. In addition, the cooperative has two state-of-the-art dryers, four lines for drying tea and a forest nursery, available to producers. A journey through the history of a government that has improved the quality of life of its members and that today is one of the largest in the center of the province.
All over the world, cooperatives have established themselves as important actors in the economic and social development of peoples. For its configuration allows individuals to unite in a common effort towards common goals and to overcome obstacles that cannot be reached individually. So it is a group of yerba farmers from the town of Dos de Mayo, Misiones who, in 1994, came together to found the Cooperativa Yerbatera Dos de Mayo Ltda. yerba produces the company’s own brand and exports more than 90% of the tea.
“When the cooperative was founded, the technical support of INTA was very important”, Héctor Dingler, the current president of the institution, who praised the role of the institution: “For this support we decided to train and cooperate, which we find today. one of the most in the central province. At the beginning we had 74 members and active members today 122”.
After it was established, the Cooperative took the first steps and obtained the resources to build yerba mate dryers. “The establishment of the first dryer is possible with the help of the various Dos de Mayo Institutes,” said Dingler, who is also a member of the Regional Council of INTA Missions, a space of participation in the levels of consultation and decision. which private and public sector managers constitute the so-called “social control” institution.
In this sense, Fabius Wyss, director of the INTA Missions Regional Center, recognized the role of the main actors who were part of this process. “Many actors remained in the territory, including Hector Dingler, today the President of the Cooperator, who is and has been a person closely connected with INTA due to the history of the group, the work with genetic material in terms of mate, as well as for his participation as a representative in the Regional Council of INTA Missions”, it was sorted out.
In relation to the Cooperative Dos de Mayo, Wyss refers to the growth of the Rural Cambio Circle and explains: “In this sense it is worth noting the growth of that rural group Cambio, which was an offshoot of the Cooperative de Dos de.” Mayo and what it means today for the area”. And he added: “In these 30 years at the beginning of the Rural Change, strong relations have been established between the productive sector, professionals and INTA”.
“Unity and Progress” were called and 15 small yerba producers. Horacio Goycoechea and, together with the teachers and INTA, generated and founded the Cooperativa Dos de Mayo.
Carlos Kornoski, agent of the Rural Change Program of the Rural Extension Agency INTA San Vicente, explained: “In 1993, a group of effective yerba farmers from the central province took care on the part of the National Rural Change Association. to have support and advice in the cultivation of yerba maye. This initiative was the beginning of the foundation of the Cooperative Dos de Mayo.
According to Kornoski, Dos de Mayo represents a cooperative, for the community, an engine of growth when it “promotes the agro-character in the area and its surroundings, it directly and indirectly uses many small family producers and the economy of the province; a very important player because it produces more than 90% of the tea “.
“For the community of Dos de Mayo before and after the arrival of INTA’s Rural Transformation Program,” summarized Kornoski.
To INTA’s favor and advice, Kornoski acknowledged that this work is ongoing and continues to this day. “We have not only worked on increasing the technical-productive capabilities and management cooperation, but also on specific aspects, such as soil and plant management in terms of harvest mate, good manufacturing practices, marketing and training, among others”; he showed
To this end, the extension and research of INTA experts met, to apply and consolidate the technology that was generated at the Cerro Azul Experimental Station, with the aim of increasing the productivity of producers in this production system.
Kornoski explained, throughout the process, “the producer company through the development of the product, from the seed to the value addition in the production chain, from the yerba mate to the present day, in the commercialization of its brand in the supermarket gondolas. .
Over the years, and due to the diversification of the Cooperative’s products, in 2011, a tea drier was incorporated with two production lines. In 2014, the construction of a mill began to proceed with the production of yerba mate. Today, the tea dryer has four production lines and Cooperante has its own brand of yerba mate: Indumar.
“For three years, we have managed our own brand of yerba mate, that is Indumar. In addition, our tea dryer is fully automated and has state-of-the-art technology. On the other hand, we have a bottle plant and a high production mill and we receive two increases in yerba production in our yerba dryers, each of which dries about 7000 kilograms of green leaves per hour,” said the president. Cooperating.
To respond to the demand, and consequently to increase the production of the Cooperative, the construction of a third drier began. With an investment of 300 million pesos, “this dryer will be very modern, with heat exchangers and the latest technology in drying herbs,” Dingler said.
For three decades, INTA’s connection with the Society for Rural Change has been consolidated in a continuous and mutual work process. “Over the years, we have been working with different groups of small producers in different activities. Today we are also working with the Council of Women Employers from INTA and Cambio Rural”, explained Dingler, adding: “we receive technical support from INTA of great importance, with different organizations, coordinating and helping producer groups “.
Forest nursery, available to producers
The Dos de Mayo Cooperative also has a model forest nursery built with support from the province. There they plant seeds of indigenous species and fruits with certified seeds of better varieties that are available in the producer’s area.
With the availability of the latest technologies, this nursery, in addition to producing the sprout, contributes to the realization of the business. “From the nursery, the seed curtains on the banks of native rivers have been handed down to receive water sources and reservoirs from different sources,” said Dingler.
“The seeds produced by the nursery are of the highest quality thanks to the technology it has. In addition to the nursery laboratory, the nursery is prepared to work with maternal and hydroponic plants”, concluded the Cooperating president.
Cooperate model
The cooperative has 30 years of continuous growth. In addition to the 122 Associates, the Cooperating workers are producers and clients. “We have about 700 producers who work with us, delivering their production,” explained Dingler, adding: “The cooperative is also a source of employment in the area, since the job represents a direct and indirect opportunity, since we have 120 workers and we plan to increase that number when the construction of the new dryer is finished”.
Producers who have a cooperative share have an average of 13 hectares of production each. “Most producers can reach 40 hectares, so all the small producers are connected through a cooperative, providing them with the security of selling their products and the price,” summarized Dingler.
Héctor Dingler held the position of Cooperative president for 7 years. “When we founded the cooperative I had the position of secretary, then I was the manager and 7 years ago I am the president”, commented Dingler and concluded: “It is a great honor for me to lead such a large and prestigious institution in the city. Dos de Mayo and one of the main cooperatives in the area of Missions” .
30 years of Rural Change
Cambio Rural has been working continuously for 30 years. Dependent on the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fish, this program promotes the growth of agricultural production through its producers with the technical support of INTA.
Based on the method of group work and the exchange of experiences, Cambio Ruris aims to facilitate retraining, generate knowledge, and increase the capabilities and skills of the group in the productive, organizational, and management aspects.
INTA promotes technical support and helps the intensity of production and conversion, as a means to improve the productive and economic situation of small and medium-sized rural producers and promotes the development of agro-industry throughout the country, promoting study groups.
This program, through counselors, provides training tools and technical advice and in turn organizes connections between program members and interrelationship activities to support the exchange of experiences between people.
