Commodity chain : Damascus Roses
- Country :
- Iran
- Production area :
- Village near Ghamsar (a production area located 200 km South of Tehran)
- Start date of the Organic Fair Trade program :
- Starting date of partnership with producers in 2007, ESR certification by Nomade Palize in 2009 and by Arcadie in 2011
- Number of recipients :
- 150 producers each working on parcels between 0.5 and 1.5 ha (1.2 and 3.5 acres)
- Crop :
- Damascus rose (rosa damascena)
- Surface area :
- 80 ha (190 acres)
Background History of the Project
Roses have been grown in Iran for centuries. This traditional culture is well adapted to the cold and dry climate found in the mountains and constitutes the main source of revenues to producers.
Nomade Palize engaged in a partnership with producers as soon as 2007. Intermediaries then bought the rose petals to distil them in neighbouring villages. Producers also had their own traditional production. Upon their request, Nomade Palize assisted them in the implementation and construction of a co-op and of a distillery by means of a partial financing of the distillery (70%) and of technical assistance. 80% of the shares of the co-op now belong to the producers.
Nomade Palize got its ESR certification in 2009, as the project leader on this commodity chain, and Arcadie got its certification in 2011, as the second buyer.
Local Partners
The co-op of the producers, the Iranian Ministry of Agriculture.
Context
The Damascus rose grows in several regions of Iran in significant amounts. All growing areas are located at an altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 metres (6,500 to 10,000 feet). Fields are grouped around water sources and are often dependant on outdated irrigation systems. The altitude and the dryness of the climate allow for the roses to grow without phytosanitary products. Rose petals are collected daily between May and June and immediately sent to the distillery which is equipped with 6 stills. Each still has a capacity of 1 ton of roses. Mixed with one ton of water, boiled and vapour cooled, 1 ton of hydrolat is obtained as well as 0,10 kg of essential oil.
Rose culture nourishes an intensive rose water industry (rose essential oil has long been considered a sub-product of rose water).
Program Description
Over and above the assistance brought to the construction of the distillery, Nomade Palize works on the following axes of development with the producers:
-Implementation of a technical support (water management, ...) with the supply of an engineer of the Ministry of Agriculture, paid by Nomade Palize.
-Long term commitment through a collective agreement signed between producers and Nomade Palize. This includes internal and commercial rules and describes the major characteristics of biological agriculture.
-Supply of bags of various colours for the harvesting and transport to the distillery to avoid mixture and contamination with non-biological products.
-Partial financing of irrigation equipment on some of the pieces of land and of a first care health centre inside the village (end of construction scheduled towards the end of 2012).
-Rehabilitation of roads to the village with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture.
Companies engaged in this Commodity Chain
ARCADIE (second buyer)
