Background of Project
The land reform process in South Africa is the mechanism by which land is returned to the original black owners. Transferring entitlement typically takes several years for a specific farm, during which the land is often neglected. The new farmers who are entitled to the land often do not posses the skills and qualifications to run their farms in a commercial way, nor do they have the skills as farmers to produce agricultural crops. This situation frequently results in drastically reduced agricultural yield.
Although several supporting programs are currently tailored to assist these farms in improving their farm management, the farms face difficulties in complying with certain quality and certification standards for accessing the international and local markets. Moreover, the strong competition in these markets requires them to create added value to their produce locally so that niche markets can be targeted, safeguarding volume sales and profit margins. These added value markets are found in the international and local certified Fair-trade markets for fruits. Already, demand from potential Fair-trade buyers in Europe and the US, and potentially in South Africa, greatly outstrips supply. By assisting farms in growing Fair-trade marketable crops and supporting them in acquiring the necessary quality and Fair-trade certification standards, the farms will be able to gain access to these Fair-trade markets.
FAIR TRADE is a global movement that seeks greater equity in international trade. Fair Trade contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to producers in developing countries, and by helping to secure the rights of workers in the Global South. Fair trade appeals to the growing numbers of consumers worldwide who are looking for socially and environmentally responsible products and services.
The Empowering Emerging Farmers initiative works with emerging South African farming communities to promote development through Fair Trade. This initiative works on a number of levels, in partnership with government, business, communities and civil society, in order to create multiplier effects.
The initiative was started by Solidaridad, a Dutch Fair Trade organization that establishes Fair Trade ventures with agricultural producers and providers of services in developing markets. Three local organizations – the Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG), Fair Trade in Tourism South Africa (FTTSA) and Resource Africa (RA) – are implementing the initiative, in partnership with Solidaridad.
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