Our vision is to become, in partnership with small rural farmers in Southern Africa, one of the major exporters of selected top-quality dried chilies to food manufacturers in the United States. The majority of rural farmers in Southern Africa continue to live in poverty because they currently grow low-value traditional crops (such as cotton and soybeans) that require significant input of money, ch
emical support and labor. Dried chilies can provide a lucrative alternative for these farmers. For decades, roughly $50 billion dollars in aid has been poured into Africa every year in attempts to alleviate hunger, poverty and medical crises. After 30 years of humanitarian aid, Africa is more dependent on assistance than ever before. Simply giving money for a “short-term fix” does not address the underlying causes of poverty. There has been no progress in creating long-term growth and development. Corruption is rampant in business dealings because few businesses are based on ethical, honest values/principles. One regrettable result is no long-term progress in creating job possibilities for the young. For example, with little infrastructure or industry, unemployment is near 85% in Zimbabwe alone. Subsequently, millions of rural Africans live on farms in the barest of subsistence conditions. A great need is the generation of sustainable business opportunities. With a minimum of investment and support, these rural families at the heart of Progressive Peppers vision could look forward to healthier, more productive lives. Progressive Peppers also has a mission to reach the black business community in Africa, bringing on board support entities such as supply companies, transporters, warehousers, processors, exporters and shipping companies. The net of cooperative professionals could be huge.
