Kenyan tea farmers hit hard by frost spells

27 March 2012 - Two consecutive frost spells have hit tea farmers in Kenya hard.  About 25,000 small-scale farmers are affected by the low temperatures which causes withering of tea leaves. The frost has destroyed tea plantations in the west of the country and caused tea farmers to lose millions of Kenyan shillings. Tea plantations in Nandi, Kericho and Bomet areas have already started to lay off workers. Read more...

Will Fairtrade farmers lose from aviation emission taxes?

26 March 2012 – European Union (EU) legislation came into force at the beginning of 2012 incorporating aviation into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). This means that from now on an additional tax will be charged to airlines for the carbon that they are emitting. Whilst this is a measure in good faith and shows the EU as committed to mitigation measures, it has been met with much resistance. Should...

Mud slides in Malawi

At Sukambizi Association Trust in Malawi tea plants are not producing as much leaf as they should. On average crop yield is down by about 15 percent. Effects of climate change Drought conditions are responsible for an increase in diseases uncommon in the area in the past. A pest called Helopeltis, which looks like a mosquito, has now become a big problem. The adult lays its eggs on the tea plant and when they hatch...

Silting of rivers in Malawi

The combination of drought and deforestation has reduced the Kasinthula Cane Growers’ (KCG) sugarcane yield by over 28 percent over the past year. Historically, the area where the KCG farmers live gets about 750mm of rain each year, although you need 2,500mm of water throughout a 12 month period to grow sugarcane properly. Over the past few years this amount has even decreased to 350mm of rain. The farmers have...