Fermanagh and Omagh District encourages residents to continue to support Fairtrade

With the onset of Fairtrade Fortnight 2021, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is once again reminding people to continue to support Fairtrade.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenges that farmers in developing countries now face are bigger than ever before, with falling commodity prices and widespread economic shocks. Ongoing poverty in farming communities makes it increasingly hard to cope with the effects of climate change.

Millions of people across the globe who provide us with our food and fashion are on the front line of the climate emergency. They’re trapped in an unfair trading system that will only drive them further into crisis.

Fairtrade is a simple way to make a difference to the lives of the people who grow the things we love. When you buy products with the Fairtrade Mark such as tea, coffee, bananas or chocolate you support farmers and workers in the developing world as they work to improve their lives and the lives of their communities.

The Mark means that the Fairtrade ingredients in the product have been produced by small-scale farmers, organisations or plantations that meet Fairtrade social, economic and environmental standards.  The standards include protection of workers’ rights and the environment, payment of the Fairtrade Minimum Price and an additional Fairtrade Premium to invest in local business or community projects.

Speaking ahead of Fairtrade Fortnight 2021, Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Diana Armstrong, commented:

‘I am asking people of the District to continue to show their support for farmers and workers in developing countries as they battle not only against the COVID-19 crisis but also against the devastating effects of climate change.  These are the people who grow many of the foods and drinks that we love such as bananas, chocolate, tea and coffee. Farmers and workers in the developing world have done the least to contribute to climate change but are disproportionately affected by it.  They are already witnessing significant impacts such as droughts, crop disease, floods, heatwaves and shrinking harvests.  We can all play our part to support farmers and workers in the developing world by choosing to buy products with the Fairtrade mark on them’.

The Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area was awarded Fairtrade status by the Fairtrade Foundation in April 2020.

Please click on this link to find out more about the Council’s involvement with Fairtrade including the District’s Fairtrade Steering Group  or email Charlotte Daly at charlotte.daly@fermanaghomagh.com