Regional Markets

Regional Markets for Local Development
to their own land to cultivate, providing loans, and helping them with administrative
tasks. As a result of this effort, a third of the cooperative’s members are women,
far higher than the average in the region (Dilley 2011). Although this intervention
is principally driven by the cooperative’s own values and mission, Fairtrade certification
provided the foundation and the means to buildup and strengthenthe cooperative
towards a more gender-balanced membership. Similarly, tea farmers in Uganda and
Kenya reported better representation and participation of women in their organisations
as a result of Fairtrade. More women members attended the meetings, and more
women became involved in the governing committees and councils (Riisgaard et al.
2010). In Kenya it is reported that the Fairtrade emphasis on participation of women in
the management of a tea factory has enhanced women’s confidence, as demonstrated by
greater attendance at factory meetings and increased contributions during those meetings.
The women also noted that they have enjoyed more access to trainings on farming
practices,once their organisation became Fairtrade-certified (Smith 2013).
Food security
By providing additional support, particularly through the stabilisation of prices, Fairtrade
helps smallholders diversify their planting practices. The new crop varieties that are
introduced help improve food security either by directly enhancing the availability of
nutrition (new staple crops) or by easing access to nutrition through the introduction of
new income sources (new cash crops, often sold at local markets). There is, never theless,
a clear need to adopt a more targeted approach that encourages the introduction of
food crops with a well-defined agenda to guarantee food security. A recent report by
the Fairtrade Foundation (2009: 9) highlights this challenge: ‘The recent volatility in
food prices, coupled with the global economic downturn, has presented a massive newchallenge
to smallholder farmers, as well as to the urban poor and landless around the
world. According to the World Bank, average food prices rose 83% between February
2005 and February 2008’.
Food quality
From a market perspective, Fairtrade has stimulated the improvement of food quality
as demands for higher standards in the international market have continued to increase.
In particular, with the strong focus on environmental sustainability, Fairtrade production
involves increased investment in high-quality inputs and ultimately better quality
outputs. Additionally, growth in the Fairtrade market has contributed to making fair
production systems more profitable and attractive for farmers. Farmers are now more
likely to invest in improving the quality of their product, in order to differentiate themselves
in the export-oriented marketplace.
The long-term relationshipsthat develop between buyers and producers in the Fairtrade
value chain also provide producers with enhanced access to knowledge about export
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