More than 3,300 Caribbean banana farmers benefit from Fairtrade

from Caribbean Net News

By Dr Christopher G. Stange
Consul for St Vincent and the Grenadines in Northern Ireland and Secretary for Fairtrade Belfast

BELFAST, Northern Ireland: The Fairtrade Towns movement was started in the United Kingdom as a grassroots project in 2000, and has now spread throughout the world, with over 400 towns across the globe currently being declared Fairtrade.

Through Fairtrade, 3,300+ Caribbean banana farmers operating under WINFA (Windward Islands National Farming Association) have been able to participate in trade, securing a livelihood. Fairtrade has allowed them to continue producing this important commodity for export and help build the infrastructure in attempts to diversify their agricultural sector.

The 2nd Annual European Fairtrade Towns Conference this year was hosted in Brussels and funded by the European Commission and the various Fairtrade Labelling Organisations (FLOs). There were representatives (public, private and government) from 19 different countries, many from outside the European Union.

Fairtrade is not a charity or subsidy, but a market response mechanism to guarantee disadvantaged producers in the developing world receive a full return for their labour. It does not impinge or threaten local farmers, as the products being imported are not of the variety they would produce.

Fairtrade promises a minimum price that covers the cost of sustainable production, regardless of market prices, with an extra premium invested in social or economic development projects. For the consumer, the item received is produced with the highest ethical and social standards, respecting the environment.

The transparency and objectives of Fairtade has seen it go from strength to strength. Fairtrade sales in some countries are doubling each year, becoming closer to mainstream and public recognition of the Fairtrade logo branding is as high as 90% in some surveys.

Fairtrade is creating a very powerful message, driven by the public that their decision to choose the Fairtrade option when shopping, plays a much wider needed reform of the international trade rules to tackle poverty in the developing world. Without Fairtrade many small farmers and co-operatives could not export their products or engage in any form of international trade.

One of the primary criteria to gain Fairtrade Town status is the local government authority must pass a resolution in support of Fairtrade and serve Fairtrade products. In Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland there are currently 25 Fairtrade certified Towns. The current emphasis of Fairtrade is on furthering government policy (internationally, centrally, regionally and locally) and allocating resources for the development of Fairtrade markets.

While most government authorities under their environmental sustainability agendas are incorporating Fairtrade into their procurement policies, there exists some inconsistency not only centrally but particularly between local councils.