Farmers seek new income from Fairtrade carbon credits

Through Fairtrade’s extensive network of farmer communities, thousands more smallholders in developing countries will be able to access the carbon market and receive much needed finance to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Reuters published a balanced article on the Fair Carbon Credits...

Another climate conference ends – what results for smallholders?

I travelled to Doha with Fairtrade producer representatives from four different regions, all struggling with climate change on a daily basis. For them, the lack of progress at this year’s talks was bemusing, and frustrating. “I am disappointed because we have put so much hope in finance and they are not making a decision, said Chief Adam Tampuri, a cashew nut producer and Chair of Fairtrade Africa. “I am...

Coffee farmers training each other on climate change techniques

At Agroindustrial Sonomoro Coffee Cooperative in Peru, farmers are getting the tools they need to deal with the changing climate – and to train other members to do the same. Being a member of Sonomoro has enabled Gloria Almonacid Baldeón to get a better price for her coffee. With the extra income Gloria has bought more coffee plants, sent her eldest daughter to university and they are hoping to improve their...

Climate change causes producers to abandon farming

Fairtrade small-scale producers – and members of CLAC – met in Ecuador to discuss the impacts and challenges of climate change. Like their African colleagues, the coffee, bananas, sugar cane and quinoa producers have experienced abnormal weather patterns with increased rainfall during the rainy season, higher humidity and prolonged droughts. ‘November, December and January used to be cold months in Costa Rica,...

New study shows African farmers fight climate change but more needs to be done

According to a survey of 700 households in Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Tanzania, smallholder farmers are actively managing the effects of climate change by using different methods. According to the study, led by the World Agroforestry Centre in Nairobi, Africa farmers produce more drought resistant and faster-growing crops and combat erosion by planting trees. But faster change is needed because Africa is especially...