Travels with a fair agenda

Elizabeth Hudson, Fair Trade Marketing Officer, headed to India before Christmas to visit two fair trade organisations.

Elizabeth met the Sahyadri tea farmers. The farmers work in the mountainous area near Ellapara in the Idukki district of Kerala – a state in south India. At Ellapara, Elizabeth met George – a specialist in pioneering organic farming methods. All the tea farmers produce only organic tea so have to find organic fertilizers.

The farmers re-invest the ‘social premium’ they gain from Fair Trade into organic farming processes. Elizabeth said: “If more Fair Trade products were sold, people like George could invest in water pumps nearer to their homes.”

The tea farmers have noticed that since farming with organic methods their families have experienced less sickness. The farmers have bought a sprayer with the ‘social premium’ – so they do not have to share a sprayer used for pesticides and compromise their product.

“I returned from India eager to share my experiences with as many friends and colleagues as possible,” said Elizabeth.

---