Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
1 October 2024 | 10:30 CAT
2 min read

Every year on October 1st, the world comes together to celebrate International Coffee Day, honouring the beloved, caffeine-rich beverage. In 2024, the theme is “Coffee, Your Daily Ritual, Our Shared Journey.” This year’s observance highlights the significance of sustainable and ethical farming practices while shedding light on the vital role of coffee farmers in bringing this cherished drink to our cups.

In an Interview with Radio Islam, Lawrence Baithili from Fair Trade Africa delves into the importance of fair trade within the coffee industry, exploring how fair trade practices impact the lives of coffee farmers and uncovering the journey behind crafting the perfect cup of coffee from farm to table.

Fairtrade is a global movement aimed at addressing the injustices of conventional trade by supporting smallholder farmers and workers in securing better trading terms. Fairtrade Africa, part of the broader International Fairtrade movement, represents Fairtrade-certified producers across Africa and the Middle East, ensuring they benefit from fair trade practices that improve their livelihoods and communities.

“There are too many impacts on the coffee that has been produced sustainability, one of these is supporting the producers to improve the quality of the coffee they produce, adopting practices that reduce the cost of production and above all, meeting the needs of the market requires, producing coffees that are ethically produced, shielding them from the market shock,” he said.

Fair trade certification guarantees fair prices, environmental sustainability, and community development. Examples include cooperatives in Colombia, Guatemala, and Nicaragua improving education and healthcare and transitioning to organic farming, helping lift farming communities out of poverty.

“Climate change has been a great challenge, and of course, coffee has not been exempted. We have been seeing unpredictable weather patterns, from excessive rains to droughts, for coffee it is a very climate-sensitive crop, with changes in temperature and weather affecting how the crop responds in terms of production,” he said.

Fair trade coffee ensures that farmers receive fair prices for their crops, allowing them to invest in their communities and protect the environment. It promotes sustainable farming, fair labour conditions, and direct trade with international buyers, cutting out middlemen. This model empowers farmers to build better futures through trade rather than aid.

Baithili emphasised that Fair Trade focuses on key interventions, particularly addressing challenges related to carbon emissions and climate change. He highlighted the importance of supporting farmers through training and establishing tree nurseries to mitigate climate change impacts and promote biodiversity conservation within production areas.

LISTEN to the full interview with Muallimah Annisa Essack and Lawrence Baithili from Fair Trade Africa, here.