Fairtrade producing results for Windward Islands banana producers
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| Published on Thursday, April 19, 2007 |
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BELFAST, Northern Ireland: Banana producers in the Windward Islands (St Lucia, St Vincent, Dominica and Grenada) are beginning to reap the benefits of Fairtrade, according to Dr Christopher Stange, Caribbean industry analyst and committee member of Fairtrade Belfast.
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| Dr Christopher Stange, Caribbean industry analyst and committee member of Fairtrade Belfast |
Through a series of adverse trade rulings by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the Windward Islands’ banana share of the UK market spiralled downwards from 60 percent in 1992 to 8 percent in 2005. Only through Fairtrade have the Windwards been able to remain in the market, which is desperately required for economic stability and growth.
Dr Stange explained: “Through Fairtrade, 3,300 banana farmers operating under the Windward Islands National Farming Association (WINFA) have been able to participate in trade, securing a livelihood, 30 percent of which are women. 100 percent of banana production has now been converted to Fairtrade and in addition to the full return for their labour under Fairtrade, the added social premium raised $2.3 million US dollars last year. This fund goes directly back into the Windward communities and has been used to update farming roads, build a new school, provide a resource computer lab, purchase a school bus, and update sterilization equipment at local hospitals.
"With many issues to be resolved with the current Caribbean Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU, it is vitally important to push onwards at securing additional contracts," added Dr Stange. “In Britain and especially Ireland, I would like to see export volumes increase not only in Fairtrade, but on conventional produce. Through WIBDECO and the various government ministries in the Windwards, we are looking at expanding to other non-traditional fresh produce exports from the Windwards, utilising the existing infrastructure, already in place.” |
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