The document discusses international trade and how large corporations have influenced trade policies and practices to their benefit and to the detriment of small farmers and producers. It outlines how fair trade aims to address some of the issues with the current international trade system by providing fair prices to farmers, fair wages, and democratic decision making. Fair trade also seeks to reduce the number of middlemen so farmers receive more money for their crops.

4. The control of these corporations affects millions of people – from small farmers to individual consumers. Today, people have fewer choices and it is more difficult for farmers and workers to earn good wages .

6. The farmer only receives about 5% of the retail price of a package of coffee sold in a U.S. supermarket. For instance, small coffee farmers receive 1% or less of the price of a cup of coffee sold in a coffee bar. 1% 5%

7. People in US, Canada, Europe, Australia and other “developed countries” are beginning to understand the situation facing small growers. Some people want to help producers receive a better price for their crop, and don’t want multinationals to have so much power and control.

8. They are part of a new kind of trading system called FAIR TRADE. This system gives consumers an opportunity to pay a fairer price to producers by paying a slightly higher price for the product.

10. Here are some ways Fair Trade can help Fair trade pays farmers enough money to provide good food and living conditions for their families, and to send their children to school.

12. As well as getting a fair price for their products, growers receive an additional sum of money called a Fair Trade Premium. A democratically-elected committee is formed to decide the best way to use these funds. The grower or landowner may participate, but the decision is made collectively by workers and growers .

13. Fair Trade also looks for ways to support the development of local and domestic industries.

14. Fair Trade believes workers should have access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare.

15. Through Fair Trade , people will receive fair wages and respect for the work they do.

16. Preparation and planning for upcoming visit of Level Ground to Assam thisi Laurie and a friend of hers will be arriving on March 18 at Guwahati. We hope she will stay long enough to visit the Bodo growers, then Gobin and also maybe the Singpho area and Simo. And, of course, she will visit Adarsh Seuj Prakalpa and meet our staff there.

17. Some information about Level Ground

21. Another important part of FAIR TRADE and DIRECT TRADE relationships is that for each kg. the company purchases, they provide a fair trade “premium.” This money can be used to improve working conditions or for some other project or activity which directly benefits the workers. Decisions about the best way to use these premiums have to be made by a committee of the workers – not by the owner of the land or the manager. The manager can sit on the committee, but the committee members make the decisions after they consult fully with all the workers.

22. The farmers group in Ambikapur is a good example of a cooperative. They work together to make decisions about what is needed so not just one family benefits from the support provided by Fertile Ground. For now, Kel and I (with Pompy’s help) will work with the tea growers and their workers to help them organize this type of group. Together we can discuss how the group should be set up, explain the kinds of things the funds could be used for, and come up with a decision-making process that Level Ground would support.