Impacts of Fairtrade in South Africa

Impacts of Fairtrade in South Africa Briefing Paper Summary

This briefing paper is drawn from an independent research study carried out in 2010 exploring the impacts that Fairtrade is having for five Fairtrade certified producer organisations in South Africa that sell Fairtrade citrus, table grapes, wine grapes, wine, apples, pears and raisins into the UK and other countries. Within the country’s broader framework of black economic empowerment since the apartheid era, the research highlights a range of positive impacts of Fairtrade for farm workers including improved wages and employment terms and conditions, a stronger voice in business decision making and negotiations, better access to training, career advancements and social provisions (such as education and health). For smallholder farmers, Fairtrade has supported organisational development, transparency and democracy, provided a mechanism for accessing higher value international Fairtrade markets and securing higher prices. It has facilitated their access to business-related training and collective investment in farm machinery and tools to improve productivity, alongside investment in community infrastructure. The research also indentifies areas where Fairtrade could further improve its impacts to help support worker empowerment, for example through greater skills development, and smallholder farmer livelihoods through greater value chain control and more market opportunities.