YAKAAR NIANI WULLI FEDERATION - Trade for Development Centre
Transcription
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