Julius
Ethang'atha
... tea grower, took
part in the Cafédirect
tea pricing workshop
held in Nairobi, Kenya.
"The floor price for Teadirect since 2003 has in a lot of ways influenced the FLO (international Fairtrade Labelling Organisation) to think wider and FLO has now been consulting with growers and trying to find a way to embrace the concept for all the Fairtrade registered tea buyers to use.
Cafédirect has proved to all that a well researched concept built on fairness, transparency and genuineness can indeed change world trade to where both producer and consumer survive in mutual respect for each other, and in dignity."
David
Gachoki
... Managing Director,
Kenya Tea
Development Agency
also participated in the
tea pricing workshops
held in Kenya.
"We are very delighted by Cafédirect’s participatory approach, where all Cafédirect producers are called to a round table to discuss the new pricing structure and agree together.
We have no doubt that the new pricing shall continue to have a tremendous impact, as it ensures that no producers sell their tea below the cost of production.
It also ensures that Cafédirect always pay a better price to the producer than any other buyer in the market.
We find Cafédirect different from any other company due to this unique approach in operating such a participatory partnership pricing system. Producers feel valued and equally important in the trading relationship."
Charles
Newe
Financial Controller,
Kibena Tea, Tanzania
"Agriculture employs over 80% of people in Tanzania, as such the only way out of poverty is by helping the industry.
The move by Cafédirect to introduce a minimum price for its tea purchases in 2003 has had a very significant impact in fighting poverty, as it is making agricultural business more predictable and sustainable.
If all producers can be assured of a minimum price then more investors will come into the business, and with the fair trading in place as advocated by FLO, a lot more people will break the vicious cycle of poverty.
From this part of the world we wish that there were more businesses in the developed world that trade like Cafédirect."