Partnering with local cooperative/producers

Background

Pidaka Integrated Specialized Cooperative at Keliyang Township, Pishan County was established in 2013, with the purpose of promoting the quality of the products farmed by the villagers at Keliyang Township. It disseminates knowledge concerning forestry and stock farming and provides technological support. It also enhances the capacity of villagers to market their own products, enabling them to increase their sales.

Nurehmeth Alim (Teacher Nu), the President of the cooperative, has 20 years experience of cultivating snow chrysanthemum. He has continued teaching the villagers how to improve the quality of their snow chrysanthemum since 1995. He helps the villagers understand the best time for ploughing, how to space the lines while sowing, the best picking method and the best place to air-dry the flowers. His experience is unique allowing the Keliyang Township’s villagers to show good quality snow chrysanthemums and avoid mixing second-rate or fake products in with the genuine article.

In 2015, the cooperative learned that WE∙Shalom International Ltd. intends to purchase snow chrysanthemums from their local small-scale farmers and export them to Hong Kong. They have played a particularly important role coordinating the partnership with WE∙Shalom. Their work has included applying for the “Record of Arable Farms Producing Raw Materials for Food Exports” at the Kashgar Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, and providing the soil, irrigation water and snow chrysanthemums for the pesticide and heavy metal tests so that the snow chrysanthemums can be exported to Hong Kong legally.

Work earnestly with the producers to enhance the product quality

Based on the precious experience of the cooperative, WE.Shalom continue working with the partnering community producers to improve the product quality. We identified and developed new product, eg. mulberry and original specie of walnut. We also explore new means of improving product quality, eg. producers must use manual fertilizer for all products, natural way of deworming, new ways of drying, vacuuming method to enhance storage. Hoping this will enhance the product quality, empowering the farmers and improving their livelihood. In return, this will secure the customers to enjoy super healthy food

New snow chrysanthemum drying box

New snow chrysanthemum drying method

New mulberry solar drying method & tray