YAKAAR NIANI WULLI FEDERATION - Trade for Development Centre

YAKAAR NIANI WULLI
FEDERATION
ORGANIC AND FAIR TRADE COTTON IN SENEGAL
Cotton is grown in more than 100 countries and the sector employs hundreds of millions of people. The production of cotton has direct positive
effects on food security, especially in western Africa. When it is integrated in traditional agricultural systems, the cotton business contributes
to its modernisation and allows for productive investments (purchase of
cattle and equipment). Crops rotating with cotton, usually cereals, benefit from it.
Yet, since the 1980s the international trade in cotton has witnessed periodic
crises, mainly originated in subsidy policies set up by industrialised countries
(especially the United States, Europe and China). These countries have subsidized their national producers so they could sell their cotton at lower prices
than the competitive prices from countries in the South.
In response to these threats, fair trade organisations supported the creation of a fair and organic cotton production sector in western Africa with
the objective of developing a local integrated, ecological and social textile industry.
THE YAKAAR NIANI WULLI
FEDERATION
In colonial times cash crops (groundnuts and cotton) were imposed to
Senegalese farmers instead of food
crops. Traditional agriculture which
relied on the rational management of
the soils’ fertility was abandoned for
practices that instead were supposed
to increase profits. After a few years
of productivity though, soils were exhausted and producers got into debt.
Pesticide-related health problems increased.
This situation motivated the producers from Tambacounda to establish in
1997 the Yakaar Niani Wulli Federation
with the support of Enda Pronat, committed to growing certified organic
(Ecocert) and fair (Fairtrade) cotton.
Soon the profitability of the undertaking became an issue however. Most of
the certified cotton was exported as
raw material and the added value from
1 | Source: http://lizcooper.blogspot.com
2 | Source: http://ynw.jarinio.sn
fair and organic end products went to
processing and commercialisation enterprises abroad1.
The Federation mobilised a broad network of partners throughout the country (producers, weavers, dyers, tailors
etc.) to enhance the added value in
their production. Together, they established the first integrated value chain
for fair and organic Senegalese textiles in 2008.
OPTIMISE PRODUCTION,
DEVELOP COMMERCIALISATION
Today, the production chain is fully
operational, but it must still be consolidated by ensuring that its products get commercialised on international markets. To do so, a project
was set up with the help of Enda Pronat and the financial support of the
Trade for Development Centre of BTC,
the Belgian development agency.
“In Senegal, everything
started with cotton
producers who
had had enough of
exporting only their
raw materials. They
got together with other
Senegalese to reinvent
a fairer trade. Together
they established the
first 100% Senegalese
organic and fair cotton
value chain 2.”
YAKAAR NIANI WULLI
FEDERATION
The integration of the value chain required a better management of the production and commercialisation circuit. Thus, the project plans to rationalise
production processes (planning, follow-up etc.), to create an integrated management platform (finances, stocks, orders) and to train operators in this new
system.
SENEGAL
Tambacounda
The second major part of the project concerns the design of new products.
Because of the competition of very cheap Asian textiles, fair and organic
cotton must position itself as a clearly defined niche and on growth markets.
The management of the Federation therefore plans to develop new product
ranges for market segments with a high potential (a children’s collection in
particular), to invest in the research of new natural dyes (such as the kola nut
or hibiscus) and to create original designs.
Considering the dusty, rain-exposed workshops in which the artisans of the
Federation had to work, the programme also includes the installation of wellequipped and protected spinning and weaving units, as well as quality control
measures.
The last part of the project aims at
increasing the fair trade partnerships: the overhaul of the communication tools (website, brochures,
etc.), the participation to fair and
organic trade fairs, the prospection
of social-purpose shops… The programme clearly aims at fostering the
activity of the Federation’s artisans.
why the Yakaar Niani Wulli federation
was chosen as a major actor in the
project “Developing fair trade practices in Senegal”.
DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES
The Federation benefits today of serious and recognised experience in
fair, organic and sustainable trade.
Since it obtained its first certification, the organisation of producers
of Tambacounda has won fame for
its readiness and capacity to carry
out innovative development programmes. This dynamism explains
YAKAAR NIANI WULLI IS NOW ONE OF THE ACTORS
IN SENEGAL CONTRIBUTING TO THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF NEW CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS THAT ARE BEING SET UP
BY INTERNATIONAL FAIR TRADE ORGANISATIONS.
WWW.BEFAIR.BE
Find out more:
www.yaniwulli.org
http://ynw.jarinio.sn
www.endapronat.org
KEY FIGURES
BTC contribution: 61,699 euros
Project duration: 2 years
Beneficiaries: 1,948 producers