Fairtrade cocoa farmers see boost in earnings, according to new report

According to the report 'Building Resilience in a Changing World', Fairtrade certified producers registered a four percent uptick in Fairtrade Premium earnings over 2020 levels for the top seven Fairtrade commodities, reaching €190 million, as global commercial activity rallied from the COVID-19 pandemic slump.

Strong rebounds

Sales data for 2021 were encouraging, especially for some products. Cocoa and flower growers experienced the strongest rebounds, with producer sales volumes expanding by 37% and 21% , respectively. Meanwhile, sales of Fairtrade-certified cut flowers and young plants topped 1 billion items annually for the first time in 2021.

The financial benefits of Fairtrade include Fairtrade Minimum Prices, which serve as a safety net for when market prices fall, and the Fairtrade Premium, which is an extra amount on top of the selling price that producer organisations democratically decide how to spend.

In 2021, coffee producers earned more than €82 million in Fairtrade Premium, while cocoa and banana producers surpassed €49 million and €34 million respectively. The Fairtrade Premium has provided more than €1.5 billion in value to farmers and workers over the past decade to invest in their businesses and communities.

“At Fairtrade, our work is wholly focused on building a level playing field for nearly 2 million farmers and agricultural workers from around the world so that they too can have equitable access to global markets​,” explained Sandra Uwera, Global CEO of Fairtrade International.

“This year’s annual report is a confirmation of the strength of the farmers and workers who have confronted challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and are building back, with Fairtrade’s support​.”

Rising inflation

Fairtrade’s annual report also captures the ongoing resilience of farmers and workers, as rising inflation, higher farming and transport costs, and the effects of climate change impact their livelihoods. Despite logistical challenges and rising production costs, Fairtrade coffee, banana and sugarcane growers saw sales hold steady in 2021.  Commercial successes for Fairtrade-certified farmers were also evident in 2021, according to the report.

More than 2,500 companies used the Fairtrade mark on more than 37,000 products sold globally while Fairtrade products remained accessible to consumers in 143 countries.