Fair Trade, An Option for Doubling Farmers’ Income: A Case Study of Fair Trade Alliance Kerala

In the present century also agriculture is the major source of livelihood and is under the big threat of reforms like liberalization and modernization of economy. Fair trade is flourishing in developing countries as an initiative for lifting poor farmers by providing higher price, credit and improved community life. It is also a market for high-value products in the global trade policies. Fair Trade Alliance Kerala (FTAK) is a small farmers’ organisation to access global market on fair trade in an equitable trading terms and improved income through fair trade. The system provides a better price to products compared to open market and benefited through fair trade exporting. This paper by reviewing FTAK, has focused on its impacts on income and has highlighted the increased production of organic crops, better prices, premiums and schemes to farmers. The study has revealed that fair trade farmers earned a higher price for commodities and marketing of products to foreign countries without intermediaries.