Please describe what the organization/company you work with does, how it is set up and where it is located?
Terrafertil is an agricultural company based in Quito, Ecuador that dries and markets tropical fruit either in wholesale format for the export market or retail products for the domestic market. They do conventional, 100% natural and organic [...]

I am working with four coffee co-operative unions in Rwanda. They are all based out of the capital city, Kigali, about 2- 3hrs drive. I am based in Kigali, but i travel to the unions and spend 3- -6 days with them. They are in different phases of growth,hence some require really basic skills like IT training, while one of them is quite sophisticated. It’s fulfilling in the sense i can achieve my objectives quite quickly by training someone on basic business skills and I immediately see the difference, but i also have to work hard with the more experienced people and transfer some skill that will be of of use to them.

Getting the last data from the 3 remaining countries in which the field research for the market study is being carried, finalizing the report, and making it as useful as possible for West African processors has kept me very busy for the past few days…

Terrafértil is in the business of producing and exporting high-quality natural and exotic products, while maintaining an artisanal culture in the productive processes. Their products are intended for both the final consumer and the food industry, which may use them as intermediate raw materials.

Developing files for data entry and preparing the final report will also be part of my mission for the forthcoming weeks. Things are becoming clearer in the study, and I am not yet fed up with eating cashew nuts…