How does one actually come to be involved in fair trade in Cambodian pepper cultivation?
The answer is simple: it had to do with the people. Ultimately, it was the farmers I met on my trip to Cambodia who gave me the impetus to get involved. Their impressive knowledge of centuries-old farming methods literally left a lasting impression on me. But so did the financial and labor-related hardships involved. And so I decided to support the farmers through a fair and long-term trading partnership. What exactly does that mean in detail?
Fair Trade: Better living standards for farmers and their families
The prices I pay mean price stability, which enables farmers and their families not only to make a good living from their work, but also to make larger investments. This improves working and living conditions in the long term. The producers also benefit from the long-term trading partnership with the local producer cooperatives - which in turn benefits the farmers: through the creation of new jobs and the preservation of their centuries-old knowledge.
Quality farm products instead of industrial mass-produced goods
With my trading partnership, I support the rural production of regional pepper varieties. Unlike industrial production, cultivation is not trimmed down to a few particularly marketable varieties. Instead, farmers continue to grow the original, very old varieties that have not been modified in any way and have the most unusual aromas.
All products are also handmade. The manufacturer showed me what that means in person: every single peppercorn is actually hand-picked. The fruits that do not meet the high quality criteria for ripeness and taste are then sifted out by hand by the farmers.
Fair trade also means protecting fauna and flora
By supporting traditional pepper cultivation, I am also making a lasting contribution to environmental protection. Unlike industrial agriculture, which focuses solely on maximizing profits without considering the consequences for the environment, peasant pepper cultivation protects the biological diversity of fauna and flora. In order to preserve nature's self-renewal capacity, its resources are used extremely carefully and no pesticides or other fertilizers are used.
