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Tuesday, January 26, 2010TransFair visits our Organic Cotton Farmers!
Last week, we traveled with Paul Rice and Heather Franzese from TransFair to visit with organic cotton farmers in villages where we source our organic cotton. We stood in the famer's fields and heard stories about the difference that organic cotton farming is making in their lives. Famers who used to suffer from harmful chemical effects of pesticides such as skin rashes, difficulty breathing, and numbness in their arms and legs now benefit from fewer costs in inputs of production, higher yields and safe, healthly working conditions. The farmers also benefit from the fair trade premium that is paid to them for their cotton. When we asked them how thay have used the fair trade premium we found that some had chosen to invest in vermicomposting, built roads, or put resouces towards their children's education. One meeting with a small cluster of famers was held in the late afternoon, and as the sun set became a candlit affair since there was no power in the village. The cluster represented many generations of farmers from the oldest farmer at age 70 and the youngest at 26. Each of the farmers in the room representing generations of farmers before them. There was only once woman farmer in the group but the cluster has decided that they will work to include two more women farmers since as they explained they are equal in the farming work. Many of the women put long hours into the fields each day. Aside from the cotton that they produce many of the farmers in this area grow oranges, for which the region is famous. The organic oranges are also sold to the local market as a form of income generation. Other forms that are in development include developing a milk co-op and a seed co-op. Many of the organic seeds utilized by these farmers are from seeds that they have saved. The NGO which supports the farmers we work with has an amazing infrastructure and support system for the farmers so that they can have the most amount of support and training needed to have more economic self sufficiency and access to the market at fair prices. As we get back with our farmer interviews and photos we will be able to share their stories.
