ABOUT FTAK

Formed in 2006, FTAK is a farmer-led movement whose members are located in four hilly districts of the Western Ghats in Kerala.  Cashew growers are mainly in Kasargod and Kannur regions and spice and coffee growers mainly in Kozhikode and Wayanad, more recently FTAK members in Kannur have also started processing Fairtrade Cocoa.

FTAK was created to enable farmers to access the global market and improve their income through Fairtrade. Farmers in Kerala face many challenges including food security, extreme effects of climate change which has caused devastating floods, the effects of pests and disease on their livelihoods, destruction of crops by wildlife, and the unwillingness of the younger generation to continue with agriculture. But the major challenges are the falling prices of commodities (in 2018- 19 the coffee prices were at a 13 year low) and the growing indebtedness of farmers.

FTAK has got a multi-tier governance system. It has a Central committee, District committee and Panchayat (village level) committee. The administrative and the policy decisions are the responsibility of the Central committee.

FTAK has focussed it’s efforts on promoting organic and Fairtrade practices among its members along with three additional objectives (FT +3 Campaign) of promoting gender equality, food security and biodiversity.

FTAK now has over 4,500 members, around 10% of them women. Crops are grown on 5,800ha, with an average farm size of 1.47ha.

Coconuts are the largest product by volume (3,934 tonnes) followed by cashew nuts (1,124 tonnes) and coffee (514 tonnes), while smaller volumes of cocoa and spices such as turmeric (66 tonnes) and cinnamon (500kg) are produced.

Farmers deliver their products to local depots where they are purchased by FTAK’s partner organisation Elements Homestead Products. They are then transported to processing units and processed into green coffee, coconut oil and nut oil etc and packed ready for export.

THE IMPACT OF FAIRTRADE

FTAK was Fairtrade certified in 2006 for a wide range of products: cocoa, coffee, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, mace, black and white pepper, cardamom, turmeric, cashew nuts, and coconuts. FTAK receives at least the Fairtrade Minimum Price from Elements for sales of these products. It is also paid the Fairtrade Premium, an additional sum to invest in business or social projects selected by FTAK’s members.

A large part of the Fairtrade Premium is invested in converting farms to organic production so that farmers can benefit from higher prices and access premium markets. It is also used to help farmers meet organic certification costs.

The premium has been invested in solar powered electric fencing to protect farms on the edge of forests from the local elephants. The fences provide a mild shock to deter the animals and prevent the destruction of their crops.

FTAK has invested the premium in a disaster management fund. This is very important, especially for the farmers on the hillsides. At monsoon time there are landslides which can wreak havoc. Government aid is often delayed and inadequate and the farmers need immediate assistance, especially when they are left homeless and their crops destroyed.

FTAK has also used the Fairtrade Premium to support a regularly organised Seed Festival where FTAK members can celebrate, exchange and sell different varieties of seeds.

FTAK also uses the premium to make cash payments to members and has invested in the construction of new office premises. (adapted from Fairtrade Foundation UK)