Benefits from Fairtrade

The market price for raisins has been well above the Fairtrade minimum for several years, so farmers have not experienced any direct benefits from the Fairtrade price. However, a voluntary ‘Premi’ above the market price is paid to farmers via Traidcraft and the processors, the South African Died Fruit Co-operative (SAD). In addition, there is the Fairtrade International Labelling Organisation (FLO) Social Premium which is paid to the co-operative. This income enables the co-operative to employ two staff members who administer the different aspects of the Fairtrade process and oversee various projects under direction from the Co-operative’s Board.

The FLO Social Premium, often supplemented by other grants, has been invested in the following ways over the years:

• Farming equipment is purchased on an annual basis and is made available to members at a minimal fee to cover maintenance costs. The provision of equipment is the Fairtrade benefit most regularly cited by members. The Co-operative facilitates and co-ordinates the purchase and dissemination of chemicals to combat pests and plant diseases
• Funding of the women’s project, whose purpose is to identify and roll out small-scale projects
• Workshops on Basic Business Management for farmers and non–farmers
• Provision of educational equipment for all primary schools in the three different islands groups
• Farmer’s Days (two per annum: June/November) and Information Days are being held during which experts (strategic partners) transfer information to members to develop their production and management capacity
• Due to a lack of capital, members experience difficulties during harvesting and pruning. The organisation therefore assists members with small loans
• First aid training for youths from the different island groups
• Mobile water pumps have been purchased and made available to households with no running water