Pasado / Presente / Futuro: la definición de lo propio

This section outlines the data gathered from the 80 surveys carried out on fair trade and conventional trade farmers for the Gampola region. The results from the 40 fair trade sample are summarised first, followed by the 40 conventional trade farmers. Finally, Table 4.1 summarises this data and includes the results for the sample as a whole.

4.2.1 Fair Trade Producers

Fair trade producers in the sample grow organically produced tea along with spices such as cinnamon, lemongrass, pepper and cloves. The age range of all those surveyed lies between 33 and 88 years with a mean of 55.90 and standard deviation of 13.40. Of those sampled, 11 were female (27.5%) and except for one person, all of those surveyed (98.8%) were married. The hours per day that farmers worked on their land ranged from 0¹² to 9 with a mean of 5.3 and standard deviation of 1.92. Almost a third of farmers (32.5%) spent 5 hours per day on their farm cultivating their tea crop.

Of those who worked within the fair trade system, 28.7% had done so for 11 years with the shortest being 3 years (1.3%), with a mean of 8.85. Incomes generated from the production of tea ranged from 12,000 rupees to 100,000 rupees per year. The mean income was 38,350 rupees with a standard deviation of 23,193. Of the sample, 97.5% said that they had seen

12 This was a single farmer who was 74 years old. His son-in-law and labourers worked on the farm in his place.

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an improvement in their income in the past 5 years¹³ with 100% stating that the price of tea had grown somewhere between 0 and 5% over this period. However, 92.5% of the fair trade sample felt that their income was still insufficient and only 37.5% had extra money available to spend on personal development such as home improvements. However, when this response was crosschecked with another question on how improved income had affected them, 61.5% indicated that they had been able to invest in their household development. Answers included improving or building their home, providing for their children’s education, purchasing furniture and saving.

All but two of the fair trade producers had children. The mean number was 2.98 with standard deviation of 1.83. The maximum number of children any participant had was 8.

An examination of the educational achievement of producers and their children shows that the majority of producers had children with secondary level education. Fifteen households (39.47%) reported primary level education for their children, and 22 (57.89%) reported secondary level education. Only one farmer (2.63%) reported their child as achieving University level education. In total, 6 (15.79%) farmers had children who had not yet finished education, as they were too young and still progressing through the education system¹⁴. Educational improvement is thus seen across the generations as only 2 producers (5%) had themselves attained secondary level education and the overwhelming majority of 38 (95%) had left school with only primary level education.

Fair trade producers were asked whether they were aware of improvements in their village in the past 5 years and 100% confirmed such improvements including more development,

13 The single ‘no’ answer came from a farmer who had fallen sick and therefore had to recruit hired labourers to do the work for him.

14 This data is the percentage based on the sample of those who have children in education i.e. sample size is 38

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road building and more houses. When respondents were asked who was responsible for the improvements observed in the town, 90% attributed the development to the SOFA cooperative with the remaining 10% citing both SOFA and the government as being responsible.

4.2.2 Conventional Trade Producers

As in the sample of fair trade producers, all of the conventional trade producers grow tea although in contrast to the 100% organic production of fair trade, none of their output is organic. Eight of the producers (20%) also grew spices such as clove, turmeric and pepper.

The age range of the conventional trade farmers surveyed is between 29 and 79 years with a mean of 49.43 and standard deviation of 14.37. All of those sampled were married and 7 were female (17.5%). The hours per day that farmers spent cultivating tea crops on their land ranged from 4 to 10 hours with a mean of 7 and a standard deviation of 1.54. Almost a half (47.5%) worked for 8 hours per day on their farm producing tea. These simple statistics suggest that the conventional trade farmers are working harder cultivating tea than those in involved in fair trade with an average of 3 hours extra labour per day.

The farmers have worked in the production of tea for between 2 and 62 years with a mean of 25 and a standard deviation of 15.22. Incomes generated from the production of tea ranged from 12,000 rupees to 76,000 rupees. The mean income was less than for the fair trade farmers at 33,000 rupees with a standard deviation of 15,290. Of the sample, 72.5%

said that they had not seen an improvement in their income in the past 5 years. Sixteen farmers (40%) stated that the price of tea had declined in the past 5 years compared to 60% who have seen an increase of between 0 and 5% over the same period. All of the sample felt that their income was insufficient and only 17.5% had extra money available to

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spend on household development such as home improvements. However, similar to fair trade producers, when responses were crosschecked with a question on the how the improved income had affected them, 57.5% nevertheless indicated that they had been able to invest in their household development.

The majority of participants (92.5%) had children with only 3 (7.5%) reporting no children.

The mean number was 2.38 with standard deviation 1.58. The maximum number of children any participant had was 7.

Seventeen producers’ children had primary level education (45.5%) with the remainder reporting secondary level (54.5%). In total, 12 (30%) farmers had children still within education¹⁵. Some inter-generational improvement is seen here, as in the fair trade sample, with a lower proportion of farmers (37.5%) having secondary level education compared to their children. However, improvement is not as marked given that only 5% of fair trade producers had experienced secondary education.

Some three quarters of conventional trade farmers confirmed that they had seen improvements in their village including more development, road building and educational improvements. When respondents were asked who was responsible for the improvements, none of the farmers attributed the improvement to fair trade or SOFA. Indeed, 70% of conventional trade farmers had not heard of the fair trade movement. Twenty-four (60%) attributed the improvements to the government and a further 6 farmers reported either

15 This data is the percentage based on the sample from those who have children in education i.e. sample size is 37

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that they do not know who is responsible or that they personally are (7.5% for each response).