As many as 3500 active sugarcane farmers in Lautoka, Nadi and Sigatoka who are members of the Lautoka Cane Producers Association will now start benefitting from a fairtrade premium of $120 per tonne of sugar.
This after the association obtained a new certificate from FLOCERT, the independent certification body within fairtrade supply chains.
The $120 per tonne price is the premium paid on top of the regular price of sugar.
“Producer organisations use this money to foster organisational, environmental and productivity progress, to make direct payments to their members, and to finance community projects,” said association chairman, Bala Dass.
“Fairtrade’s approach enables farmers and workers to have more control over their lives and decide how to invest in their future.
“As a leader in the global movement to make trade fair, fairtrade supports and challenges businesses and governments and connects farmers and workers with the people who buy their products.”
The Lautoka Association was de-certified in 2019 for major non-compliance of Fairtrade Standards.
“Since then, association members have been deprived of millions of dollars in funding from fairtrade.
“Farmers and workers have a strong voice at every level of fairtrade, from how they invest in and run their local organisations to having an equal say in fairtrade’s global decision-making.”
The Ba and Labasa Cane Producers Associations remain de-certified by fairtrade.
