BOGOTA – Every four years, coffee growers who are associated with the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC) choose their municipal and departmental representatives in a free, participatory and democratic process.
The Coffee Grower Elections, known for being the largest union election process in Colombia and Latin America, will take place between September 6 and 7, 2014.
The elections will be carried out in 17 departments and 566 municipalities. This means that more municipalities will participate in Colombia’s Coffee Grower Elections than in the general elections of countries including Venezuela (335), Bolivia (339), Chile (334) and Ecuador (221).
More than 14,000 candidates are expected to participate in the elections, over 2,300 polling stations will be installed nationwide and there will be more than 6,400 electoral juries. This massive private electoral process is an example of openness, transparency and inclusiveness in the most influential sector of Colombia’s agriculture.
Why are the Coffee Grower Elections the most important event for Colombian coffee growers?
- Because coffee growers choose their municipal and provincial representatives through a free, participatory and democratic process.
- Because the coffee leaders are chosen by the direct vote of fellow coffee growers who hold Coffee Growers ID cards.
- Because they are an example of openness that allows them to reach consensus through inclusive policies. The decisions made by elected coffee growers in different instances always advocate for the well-being of coffee growers and their families.
- Because the Coffee Grower Elections make participatory democracy a reality in the most important sector of Colombian agriculture: the coffee growing industry.
- Because the FNC´s guild structure allows coffee producers to discuss priorities, reach consensus and make collective decisions.
Objectives of the Electoral Process
Participation:
Achieve widespread participation of coffee growers who hold Coffee Grower ID cards as a way to strengthen the FNC’s objectives and foment the well- being of coffee growers.
Transparency:
Achieve an agile and transparent electoral process with established rules and controls while guaranteeing the participation of external and expert observers.
Representation:
Coffee growers are represented by their elected leaders. This will enhance their trust in the FNC as the entity that represents the interests of Colombian coffee growers.
Who do coffee growers choose?
Through their direct vote, coffee growers choose 4,620 representatives for the 370 Municipal Coffee Grower Committees and the 15 Departmental Coffee Grower Committees. Departmental Committees form the National Congress of Coffee Growers: the sector’s maximum authority.
Who can vote?
Coffee growers who have Coffee Grower ID cards and at least half a hectare grown in a coffee plantation with at least 1,500 plants can vote.
Who is eligible?
- Coffee growers who have Coffee Grower ID cards
- Coffee growers whose property is in the municipality in which they intend to be elected
- Coffee growers who are not subject to any of the disqualifying clauses described in the issued statutes and regulations
Source: FNC
