Showcase Ziyang

Ziyang Vegetable Federation is a young federation of 15 cooperatives (10.000 farmers) in Sichuan. The total surface of all cooperatives is 1700 mu. They have several demo bases (150 mu). They grow cabbage, corn, pumpkin and small chilli pepper. When they test new vegetables they don't use fertilizer or pesticides or irrigation, in order to make a natural selection of the strongest variety. All in the benefit of the farmers, to provide good advice and find good species. They have a well-organized cold storage, with different capacity. When prices are high they sell to the market, if prices are low, they store. Now the storage was empty because of the high prices. Because of a strong marketing department and sales philosophy the federation is growing fast. Next step in the growing process to a mature status is organising a good governance structure and solid financial organisation. Proposed project: The BHAG is to move the cold storage to another location, where also the big trucks can deliver their vegetables. At a better location the cold storage can be used to sell at the right moment. We start with a business planning / governance workshop, There after we want to convince them to attend the financial management training. End of the year we will give them the marketing training.