Fairtrade is all about empowering farmers and workers in developing countries to help them get a better deal, through fairer prices, decent working conditions and favourable terms of trade. Each August, during Fairtrade Fortnight, we celebrate the positive changes that are made on families and communities when products carrying the Fairtrade Mark are created and purchased.
Fairtrade products help to give people in developing countries a fair deal because the ingredients are purchased at a Fairtrade Minimum Price, which is set to cover the sustainable cost of production, or the market price when it’s higher. There is also a Fairtrade Premium paid over and above the price, this is an additional sum that goes into a communal fund for workers and farmers to use – as they see fit – to improve their social, economic and environmental conditions.
Here are just two examples of Fairtrade empowering farmers and workers and taking care of the planet. There are hundreds more behind every product bearing the Fairtrade Mark. Fairtrade is proud to support people like Julienne and Victor around the world.
People
Around 60-80 percent of the world’s food is grown by women, yet it is rare that these women own the land and therefore see little profit from their work. Fairtrade works hard to address this gender gap.
The Women’s School of Leadership, in Cote D’Ivoire was set up to support female farmers and generate more income through smarter farming, giving them the confidence and skills the need to successfully start businesses and become leaders in the Fairtrade certified cocoa cooperatives in their local communities.
The program launched in May 2017 when the first group of 19 women and 3 men joined the school. The Men on the course are allies who are working to become gender champions who will help to educate their communities of the benefits of equality.
“Through my participation in the School, everything changed. I realized how much I could do for my cooperative, my community and my personal projects. For me, Fairtrade is a label which fights for the well-being of the producers, a movement that gives producers the opportunity to decide their own futures. It is also a system where the producers are, at the same time, Beneficiaries and owners.” Julienne Assoko producer, Cooperative Capressa.
This initiative from Fairtrade is challenging the gender gap, enabling women to stake their claim and succeed on their own terms. Fairtrade Standards are designed to prevent gender inequality, increase female participation and empower more women and girls to access the benefits of Fairtrade.
Planet
Farmers are on the front line of climate change. For millions of farming families and communities worldwide the effects of climate change are a daily reality.
Fairtrade farmers, producers and workers are able to be more resilient to climate change by spending the Fairtrade Premium on projects such as tree planting, irrigation, crop diversification and clean energy, which are more sustainable on a local level and contribute to the global fight against climate change. Fairtrade farmers and workers decide how the Premium money is spent, because it is they who know best what they need to become more resilient.
Kenya is listed among the top 20 countries most affected by climate change and studies show that tea growing areas in Kenya are set to lose around 40% of the land suitable for tea planting due to climate change.
The Sireet Tea Outgrowers Cooperative in Kenya represents over 6,000 small-scale Fairtrade farmers already feeling the impact of climate change – who have no other option but to find a solution to climate change challenges. As a Fairtrade cooperative they received vital training on climate change risks and ways to adapt.
“The experience showed that knowledge is power indeed, especially for the farmers who now feel they can take action and also pass their knowledge onto others,” said Victor Biwot, Operations Manager at Sireet Tea Outgrowers
What can you do?
Choosing Fairtrade products is one simple way you can support change for farmers and workers, and help them thrive in tough market conditions, strengthening their businesses and communities.
We’re proud to support Fairtrade, by doing so we ensure fairness to farmers, families and the environment. When you shop, look for the Fairtrade Mark to make a positive mark on people and the planet.
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