Ogmore stores lend support to Fairtrade coffee initiative

A NEW initiative has been launched by an International Climate Change Coffee Partnership, made up of organisations across Wales and Uganda including Pontyclun-based Ferraris Coffee.

More than 3,000 Fairtrade farmers in rural Uganda will be supported by the Welsh Governmentbacked partnership to get them a fair price for their coffee – and help them combat climate change.

The partnership is the result of nearly 10 years of work, which has seen Fairtrade and organic farmers in Mbale, Uganda, join with Welsh organisations to look at farming, climate change and sustainable trade. It is also supported to buy coffee from producers in Uganda, allowing it to be bought and enjoyed across Wales.

As part of recent Fairtrade Fortnight celebrations at the Senedd, Jenipher Sambazi, a coffee farmer from Uganda and vice-chair of Mount Elgon Agroforestry Community Co-operative Enterprise (MEACCE), met with members of the partnership and AMs, including Ogmore AM Huw IrrancaDavies who is also chair of the National Assembly for Wales Co-operative Group. She spoke about her experiences as a coffee farmer, a woman in leadership, and the impacts of climate change on her local region.

Jenipher said: “If we can sell our coffee on Fairtrade terms, we can grow our business so we can do more to adapt to climate change.”

“Fairtrade guarantees a better price for our coffee and the Fairtrade premium will be spent by our community on projects that help us improve our lives.”

MEACCE is one of the four partners planting trees with the Size of Wales in Mbale. More than 10 million trees have been planted so far with a target of 25m by 2025.

Mr Irranca-Davies said: “Wales has a proud tradition of championing the Fairtrade movement, which strives to give a greater voice to farmers and workers in the developing world and I’m delighted to see local stores across Ogmore supporting Fairtrade-branded goods.”