Push for "Fairtrade" label
The Cooperative Promotion Department aims to obtain "Fairtrade" certification mark for more products from Thai cooperatives, to promote their products internationally.
After succeeding with pineapple products from Prachuab Khiri Khan province, Somchai Charnnarongkul, director-director of the department, aims to obtain the certification to Nam Dok Mai mango and sugar.
The Sam Roi Yod Cooperative in Phetburi recently received the certification mark from Germany-based Fairtrade Labelling Organisation. With the certification, its canned pineapple and pineapple juices are marketed in several European markets like the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, France and Switzerland. This is expected to boost the annual export value to Bt1.5 billion.
"Fairtrade" mark aims to create fairness to all involved in the production of products, from workers, consumers, distributors and manufacturers. While distributors and manufacturers gain profits, consumers are offered with fairly-priced good-qualty products and workers are promised good work environment without any discrimination. The organisation now estimates that products involving 1.15 million farmers and workers carrying the mark are now sold in over 70 countries worldwide.
"To be eligible for the label, the products must be safe for consumers and produced in environmentally-friendly environment. Farmers and workers are assured of minimum pay," Somchai said.
According to Anont Loadthanong, manager of Sam Roi Yod Cooperative, the cooperative has 858 households as members. Of total, 63 households are working under the Fairtrade system, owning combined plantation areas of 8,500 rai and producing 20,000 tonnes per season. The output is sent to the processing factory, owned by a community enterprise. Under the Fairtrade labelling system, the enterprise is also promised subsidies worth 10 per cent of export price.
"We're opening for more members, to accommodate fiercer competition. More products would be pushed to join the Fairtrade system, to increase their competitiveness in the global market," Anont said.
From FLO's website, currently 11 products from Thailand are under the "Fairtrade" system, covering 9 in the rice category and one each from coffee and honey categories.
Coffee - producer
Thai Tribal - Chiang Mai, Thailand
Honey - producer
Na-Rai Loei Agriculture Cooperative - Loei, Thailand
Rice - producer
Chiang Mai Organic Agriculture Coopeartive - Chiang Mai, Thailand
Green Net Cooperative - Unspecific Regions within Thailand, Thailand
Na-Rai Loei Agriculture Cooperative - Loei, Thailand
Namon Agriculturalist Group Co.Ltd. - Yasothon, Thailand
OJRPG - Organic Jasmine Rice Producer Group - Ubon Ratchanthani, Thailand
Orgaic Agriculture Cooperative Surin Ltd. - Surin, Thailand
Rice Fund Surin - Organic Agriculture Cooperative, Ltd - Surin, Thailand
Sarapi - Chok Chai Agriculture Cooperative Limited - Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Tha Rua Agricultural Cooperative - Unspecific Regions within Thailand, Thailand
