There seems to be a trend in the UK now to demand to know how clothes were made, but not who grew the cotton that they are made from, and this lack of awareness is resulting in desperate hardship. Put simply, more brands using Fairtrade cotton means more money goes back to help women and girls in cotton growing communities.
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They also earn an extra sum – the Fairtrade Premium – which farmer groups can then decide democratically how to best use, to improve quality and productivity for their crops and social projects such as education and health services, to benefit their communities.īut farmers can only sell on Fairtrade terms if British shoppers continue to ask for Fairtrade cotton when we buy new outfits. Practically speaking, farmers selling cotton on Fairtrade terms receive a Fairtrade Minimum Price for their cotton, which acts as a vital safety net and gives the stability that is needed to plan for the future. With high levels of illiteracy and limited land holdings, many cotton farmers live below the poverty line and are dependent on the middle men or ginners who buy their cotton, often at prices below the cost of production. The price of cotton has slumped in the last 30 years, even though the cost of producing it has risen and that means farmers in places like Uganda, India, Kyrgyzstan and West Africa are struggling to survive.Ĭotton farmers are at the end of a long and complex supply chain in which they are virtually invisible and wield little power or influence. Kady’s cooperative, and many others, are desperate to sell more of their cotton on Fairtrade terms because are not earning nearly enough from Fairtrade sales to lift them out of terrible poverty. Whilst International Women’s Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women around the world, sadly it’s not all good news. The processes involved have made groups of cotton farmers stronger and more able to look after their own interests, to deal with government officials, to engage with other groups. Some has been spent helping build and equip clinics, and to train villagers in health care and midwifery. Some has gone on projects for clean drinking water. The Premium has been used in Senegal to help many of the women and girls in the community – to build and furnish schools, and to buy packs of stationery, books and schoolbags for students. And the farmers’ group is also paid the Fairtrade Premium – the extra money that the group decides how to spend, men and women together. When it comes to harvest time, they are paid a guaranteed price for their produce, above the market price. The farmers’ group in Kady’s village in Senegal began to see benefits of Fairtrade with training courses they were given, to produce better quality cotton, to get higher yields, to improve health and safety. She and her family grow their own food, but their cash comes from growing cotton. Kady is one of West Africa’s 10 million cotton farmers. 8 years ago Meet Kady Waylie this International Women’s Day.
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