In Colombia, the banana farmers had been battling low prices from a series of different companies so they decided to form their own co-operative to make their produce more competitive.
One of the farmers said, ”Before Fairtrade, the earnings from the farm were not enough to support my family and we often thought of selling our farm to bigger producers. Now, with the Fairtrade premium, food security and the quality of life in general have improved for my family.”
Fairtrade has changed his community for the better. We feel very proud that this is a prime example of how Fairtrade has made a difference in taking people out of poverty. In a recent study of Fairtrade farms in Colombia, 96% of farmers said their economic situation had improved, on average, by 34%, since joining Fairtrade.
Members of Banafrucoop grow their produce on small plots of land. Because this is now a Fairtrade co-op and although bananas are the principal crop, these farmers have also been able to diversify and grow the papaya and the chilli.
At present, the organisation is made up of 35 producers (11 are women). With the implementation of Fairtrade standards, such as reducing the use of chemical pesticides, this has increased the demand for local labour to carry out manual weeding and other tasks. Consequently, each producer now hires temporary workers. This particular co-operative exports all its fruit.
With the help of Fairtrade, Banafrucoop has grown and modernised. In 2009, it was Fairtrade certified. The sales have grown massively. Banana sales were 52% in 2009 but in 2012 Fairtrade sales had grown by 95%.
The co-operative has started a social fund with the Fairtrade premium which takes care of farm repairs, old age pensions, life insurance, funeral costs, permanent farm workers. It has also offered 2 university scholarships and housing for 2 workers and their families.
So, people of Llanelli, every time you buy some Fairtrade bananas, you will know that you are really helping people.
Bananas are grown all over Latin America , the Caribbean, South East Asia and West Africa. The problem is that within the industry, the workers have low wages, insecure employment, handling hazardous chemicals. Those who work under Fairtrade, get a much better deal.
Did you know:
- A third of bananas sold in the UK are Fairtrade.
- The Fairtrade premium totalled £31.3 million in 2017.
- Use banana skins to calm itchy mosquito bites.
- Bananas are the backbone of many countries’ economies.
- Bananas come from173 Fairtrade certified banana organisations, representing 25,000 farmers and workers in 18 countries.
- A banana is a herb and a fruit. It is distantly related to ginger. It is not a tree because it is not a trunk because the leaves are tightly wrapped around a single stem, which leads up to a fruit-bearing flower stalk.
- The health benefits of a banana are that they are loaded with potassium, which helps regulate heart function and blood function.
- There are 105 calories in a banana.
- Banana skins can shine your shoes.
- 47% of bananas grown worldwide are the Cavendish variety.
- Fairtrade has improved the lives of banana farmers.
How is Fairtrade making things better?
Fairtrade works to support both banana farmers and workers employed on plantations. Fairtrade’s vision is to work with the banana trade to create more value for producers and ensure they get a decent pay for the hard labour that goes into growing our favourite fruit.
So our job in Llanelli is to support Fairtrade and the easiest way is to buy bananas. In my 4 years on and off with Fairtrade Llanelli, I have spent much of my time dressed in a banana suit. Looking like an idiot has been part of the fun. It reminds our local people that when shopping, they might remember my stupid banana suit and buy Fairtrade bananas.
We are very proud of the fact that we have Fairtrade status as a Fairtrade Zone, one of three in Wales. People get bogged down in the idea of a Fairtrade Town, but you can have a Fairtrade anything, town, village, borough, zone, city and so on. The whole constituency of Llanelli, with our MP, Nia Griffith is a Fairtrade Zone. While gaining Fairtrade status is a significant achievement, retaining it is not easy. We need as many people as possible to help promote Fairtrade in Llanelli. Each year has been a massive work load and the volunteers have worked very hard to carry it through. At the beginning we had two probationary years and had to renew each year. Now we have two years breathing space but we still have to prove ourselves and keep working for Fairtrade. So now this year after 2 years is the next application for status in April. One day we hope to have signs put up , saying “You are now entering a Fairtrade Zone”. To quote Nia Griffith, our extremely supportive MP,
“We must ensure that Llanelli can retain Fairtrade Status, so let’s now redouble our efforts and try to engage more of the local community with Fairtrade. The point to remember is this. Think of it as one small step at a time. Just change one thing in your shopping basket and buy a Fairtrade item. If all of us in Llanelli did that every week , just what a giant footprint we, in Llanelli, could make!!!
Lee Waters, our AM, said,
“It’s fantastic to see Llanelli become a Fairtrade Zone. This is a significant achievement. Buying Fairtrade goods makes a big difference to supporting farmers and workers in developing countries to become independent, to receive a secure income and to be less vulnerable to poverty.”
YOU, THE PEOPLE OF LLANELLI CAN MAKE SUCH A DIFFERENCE TO PEOPLE IN DIRE POVERTY JUST BY CHANGING A SMALL SHOPPING HABIT.
So little to achieve so much!
