Fairtrade Africa, a subsidiary of Fairtrade International, a global agricultural organisation, lost about $14 million in premiums in 2020.

The organisation attributed the loss of revenue on the African continent to the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to the organisation, the pandemic impacted global supply chains and Fairtrade was no exception.

In Fairtrade Africa’s Annual Report for 2021, the earnings fell from about $64 million in 2019 to about $49 million generated in 2020.

Cocoa followed by flowers were the highest premium earners for Fairtrade.

However, flowers and plants recorded an increase in production of about $4.9 million in metric tonnes, from about $4.4 million in metric tonnes in 2019.

Cocoa was the second highest produced crop, but it fell in production from about 550,000 metric tonnes in 2019 to 530,000 metric tonnes in 2020. 

Fresh fruit came third with about 370,000 metric tonnes. But it increased from about 190,000 metric tonnes in 2019.

Dried fruits were the least produced crop with 12 metric tonnes.

The report disclosed that premiums earned were used to provide services to communities and provide training and empowerment for workers under small-scale producer organisations and hired labour organisations for Fairtrade.

This, it believes will help the attainment of all the Sustainable Development Goals.

Fairtrade Africa products include banana, cocoa, sugarcane, coffee, dried fruit, nuts, cotton, tea, vegetables, wine grapes, herbs and spices.