Vasudha at Fairtrade Regional Supporter Conferences, UK
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Vasudha - the organic farming project of textile giant Pratibha Syntex represented Indian organic cotton farmers at a series of conferences held through out the United Kingdom. These aimed to share stories of benefits farmers have received through Fairtrade products, outlined existing problems and challenged for what more can we do for ensuring fair and better trade in this glocal economy.
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Vasudha at Fairtrade Regional Supporter Conferences, UK
- 1. Vasudha at Fairtrade Regional Supporter Conferences Location: Exmouth, Truro, London and Sunderland
- 2. About us โข One of Indiaโs largest organic cotton farmersโ network โ Vasudha Jaivik Krishak Kalyan Samiti aka Vasudha โข Vasudha in Sanskrit means Mother Earth โข Vasudha is supported by Pratibha Syntex Ltd. - a vertically integrated textiles manufacturer โข With a strong focus on sustainability, Pratibha Syntex specializes in knitted textiles and works with renowned apparel brands www.pratibhasyntex.com/vasudha.swf 2
- 3. Vasudha โ Statistics & Functioning โข Vasudha networks with 30,000 farmers across 130,000 acres โข Annual production is 22,000 metric tonnes of lint cotton โข Number of Fairtrade farmers โ 1500 โข Elected Representatives on the Fairtrade Committee โ 44 โข Executive Committee members โ 7 โข So far total premium of GBP 350,000 has been distributed across 80 villages โข Fair and democratic โข Need based interventions
- 4. Problems Farmers Face โข Lack of agriculture infrastructure โ irrigation system, cowsheds, storage space, transport system โข Imbalance in climatic conditions โ erratic rainfall โข Lack of research & development
- 5. Fairtrade Premium Activities: So Far 2007-08
- 6. Fairtrade Premium Activities: So Far 2007-08 2008-10
- 7. Fairtrade Premium Activities: So Far 2007-08 2008-10 2010-12
- 8. Fairtrade Premium Activities: So Far 2007-08 2008-10 2010-12 400 students 25 staff 10th class 2012-14
- 9. Annual General Meeting of Farmers
- 10. Annual General Meeting of Farmers
- 11. Warehouse
- 15. Cattle Drinking Water Tank
- 16. Toilet Facility
- 17. Women Farmers Harvesting Cotton
- 18. Farmers being trained on organic best practices
- 19. And how did this affect farmers? โข Improved socio-economic conditions โข Improved farming and transactional practices โข Increased self-confidence
- 20. Fairtrade Premium Activities: So Far 2007-08 2008-10 2010-12 400 students 25 staff 10th class 2012-14
- 21. Fairtrade Premium Activities: So Far 2007-08 2008-10 2010-12 400 students 25 staff 10th class 2012-14 What Next ?
- 22. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KA947kXptA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_IkjlgCDdw Thank youโฆ /pratibhasyn www.pratibhasyntex.com
Editor's Notes
- Back of mind Fairtrade acreage: Number of organic farmers: MT of organic cotton: Number of BCI:
- Social issues: child labour, open defecation, equal opportunities for women
- 2007-08: Heath check ups in 26 villages to address health concerns, Stitching centre for entrepreneurship development of women, decided to construct a warehouse. Started by purchasing 3 acres of land
- 2008-09-10: Constructed a warehouse, seed & drip distribution, school material & coaching classes, guide to organic, insurance โ farmers & crops, stitching centre in 5 villages, water tank, 5 set of toilets โ integrity and honour, MILESTONE: Vasudha Vidyavihar โ promote education, our march towards Gandhian dream of a sustainable rural India,,
- 2010-11-12: As primary school students started attending, need for to & fro commute was needed โ this led to purchase of a bus. Visualizing the growing need โ plot of 5 acres land was purchased along with providing drinking water facility & donations to old age home. Solar street lamps are installed in 47 villages for access to lighting at night.
- 2012-13-14: Right now, the school Vasudha Vidya Vihar has become a good facility for village children. More than 400 students study and 25 staff members are given employment through this school. 2013 is another milestone because the school has now become self-sufficient. It is continuing to provide education along with vocational courses
- Protection, safe environment, ensuring crop longevity
- Beacon of change. Avoiding child labour
- Meghna Patidar. Microbiology. Participating.
- Asset. Temperatures.
- Sureel from Fairtrade
- Improved socio-economic conditions have made it possible for the farmers to lead a better, respectable life. Access to fair terms of working with the society enables a transaction that is free from middle men & money lenders. Organic and non-Bt cotton cultivation has led to improved environmental conditions, good utilization of their life-stock and cultivation of best practices Access to insurance has helped secure inputs for farmers, seed security. Access to education has opened a plethora of opportunities for our farmers. The kids now end up NOT working on farms, learn using internet, social media to learn more about organic practices. Self confidence: Unity. 1 entity. 1500 together โ more impact, more clout. Result โ benefits of govt. schemes, benefits on-time
- Farmers have aspirations. Their families have aspirations. They look upto their children to fulfil those. School till 12th and college. Need good Bt seeds, better schools, more farmers need basic facilities, sustainable. Out of 30,000 only 1500 Ft certified. Lot more to do. And you can play a part in making that happen. Buy Fairtrade. Help creating a better world.