OUR PRODUCER NETWORK

Avituri is a family farming enterprise to the east of the Congo. In 2008, after the war, Charles Schafrad returned to the region in the hopes of rehabilitating the lands of his ancestors. With the support of NATEVA, he multiplied some geranium cuttings from the Island of Reunion; from these small beginnings grew a plantation of 60 hectares. Charles’ distillery now produces 3 metric tons of essential oil which is exported to NATEVA in France. 250 jobs have thus been created, employing mostly single mothers. In 2014 the plantation obtained its organic and fair-trade certifications from Ecocert. New cultures such as lemon eucalyptus have been developed. A dispensary has been built and a fairtrade bonus is distributed to both the workforce and the community.

On completion of his agricultural studies in 2015, Ugandan Joel Ofufa decided to follow in his father’s footsteps by creating a company founded on the plantation and transformation of lemongrass, palmarosa and citronella. With the support of NATEVA, the project was launched. A steam still was made in France and transported to the Ugandan site. The plants were cultivated by independent producers, who thus benefitted from a new source of income. The products emanating from the project gained BIO (organic) certification by Ecocert. At the end of 2016, the first harvests and distillations took place, and in 2017, the essential oils were exported to France. Truly the start of a promising venture!

Since the 1970’s the cultivation of organic plants in France has been in constant progression, in particular in the Drôme department which today is the 2nd largest organic-producer department in the country. The growth of and support for the farming sector has always been one of NATEVA’s priorities, and we are committed to building lasting and close relationships with our producers. In particular we give them technical support and accompaniment in moving towards ecological certification and product labelling. Contracts are drawn up to cover several years to encourage and stabilise continuity of supply.

NATEVA has worked for years with producer groups in the Nepalese cosmetic and aromatherapeutic sectors. Here in this Himalayan country, you can travel through almost all of the ecological zones found on our planet, from the sub-tropical to the alpine! The unequalled botanical wealth of Nepal stretches from the cultivation of turmeric in the plains bordering India to the rhododendrons growing at up to 4,000 metres. Thanks to our partnership, we can furnish a great variety of essential oils, plants and plant extracts from this country.

In 2020, NATEVA entered a new partnership in Africa, helping a 1,500-strong farmer group engaged in tea tree cultivation for more than 20 years. Their products benefit from both organic certification and Fair Trade recognition authenticated by Ecocert. At the inception of the project in Kenya, in a semi-arid zone with poor water resources, the majority of farmers had converted to the only crop with commercial potential: the tea tree, known for market stability and resistance to an unfriendly climate. These growers turned to NATEVA for the distribution of the essential oil in France and throughout Europe. The project has succeeded in stabilising the community’s income, permitting the improvement of living standards and levels of literacy.