Fairtrade works with farmers who’ve formed small producer organizations, as well as contract production organizations in the process of forming independent cooperatives.
DISCLOSURE: We may earn a commission when you use one of our links to make a purchase.
Ninety percent of the world’s cotton farmers live in developing countries, which is where Fairtrade focuses its efforts.
The cotton industry is worth over US$50 billion a year, but five countries – China, India, the US, Pakistan and Brazil – produce the majority of the roughly 26 million tonnes of cotton harvested in each year.
Along with Turkey and the European Union, heavy subsidies by these major players keep the global cost of cotton artificially low.
This puts pressure on small-scale farmers in countries where governments lack the resources for similar subsidies.
Fairtrade works with farmers who’ve formed small producer organizations, as well as contract production organizations in the process of forming independent cooperatives.