Rice and Quinoa
Fair Trade rice is relatively new in town, but it's worth picking up when you visit a Ten Thousand Villages Store.
The price of rice races up and down
After the global financial crisis, South Asian countries are witnessing drops in paddy-field harvests while Latin American, Caribbean, and African countries are seeing prosperous seasons. Infrequent precipitation on top of delayed monsoon seasons is the culprit of lower regional outputs, and as a result; world prices are much higher than expected. Likewise, the trend of warmer weather induced by climate change will prove even more challenging for farmers as the incidence of less rain and more droughts shall significantly slash outputs, and reduce earnings for producers. Debt amongst paddy-field workers is a common-place.
In spite of attractive market prices, high import tariffs and domestic subsidies on behalf of developed countries make producing rice in developing regions as an uneconomical prospect. Oftentimes, African and Haitians have no choice but rely upon buying cheaper rice from the United States and Japan. As a consequence, food security is jeopardized, and producers wishing to develop their own farms must pay exorbitant amounts for rice seeds.
How does Fair Trade Certified Rice Work?
Fair Trade offers a minimum price that ranges from 10000 baht per metric ton to 12000 baht (in Thailand). In Benin, the Fair Trade minimum ranges from 750,00 euro to 925,00 euro per metric ton. In effect, all minimum prices vary by region in light of unique market environments. In Thailand, the Fair Trade premium is an extra 750,00 baht, while in Benin it is 125,00 euro. As for Quinoa—a grain—the Fair Trade minimum is $ 711.00 USD per metric ton with premium of $85.00 USD per ton.
Workers are organized in cooperatives or self-governing associations and premiums are managed by mill owners. Additionally, Fair Trade cooperatives outlaw genetically-modified plants and chemical pesticides. Pre-harvest credits are readily made available to paddy-field workers. The social premiums usually go towards improving infrastructure and financing organic certification. Child labour is forbidden.
To learn more about Fair Trade rice, see the rice section of the Fairtrade Foundation
Profile of the Green Net Rice Co-operative in Thailand
For more information about world rice prices
Engineers without Borders Canada “Eat Ghana rice” campaign
Where to find Fair Trade rice in Metro Vancouver
Unfortunately, Fair Trade rice is new to Metro Vancouver, and at present the only place to find it is at Ten Thousand Villages locations. The brand to look for is called Equita.