Fairtrade in the Dominican Republic
00:02
The most famous long-distance traveller to have landed here was called Christopher Columbus. He named the island Hispaniola and founded the first Spanish stronghold of the New World.
00:19
Today this popular holiday destination is better known as the Dominican Republic. But bright beaches are not everything the eastern part of this island has to offer. Europe’s second most popular fruit is also from here.
00:36
Very often carrying this sticker. But no farmer can produce Fairtrade products alone. Demetrio Madera has two hectares of land and about 8,000 banana trees. He is part of the cooperative ASOBANU, which is committed to Fairtrade conditions: no exploitation of labour, no discrimination and compliance with environmental criteria.
1:03
The land belongs to Demetrio. Therefore, for each box sold, he gets a guaranteed $8.75 – or more. And on top of that, he gets $1 of social premium - money that goes directly to the cooperative and funds important development projects.
It is easy to see why 90% of the banana farmers in the region of Mao now participate in fair trade.
1:27
OT DEMETRIO MADERA, banana farmer
"It has many advantages. Most importantly it improves our quality of life. The social premium we have is investing in education or in sport. That has not existed before. It helps poor farmers like us."
1:47
A sports field, a maternity ward but also this public school in Mao have benefited from the social premium. Previously, dozens of students were taught outside in sweltering heat or interrupted by sudden rains.
2:07
OT Delfa ANA RODRIGUEZ, Director
"With the money we have received from Asobanu, we could expand the school to two classrooms. This has greatly relaxed the situation. We have 400 pupils - there are more and more and we need space for them. "
2:22
Back in Demetrio’s field, the harvest work is done by migrants from the Dominican Republic’s even poorer neighbour, Haiti. 250 Dominican pesos, about 5 €, are their daily wage. The collaboration works, despite existing prejudices.
2:39
OT DEMETRIO MADERA, banana farmer
"The Haitians want this work, they ask for it. Dominicans prefer to work in a supermarket, or an office, or are self employed. Haitians, however, are hard workers, so they go to the field. "
2:53
It is also because they are allowed no other work. Jose Luis came here from his native Haiti 10 years ago. Asobanu was a blessing for him, because unlike many immigrants, he is employed and even insured.
3:08
OT JOSE LUIS, workers
"The money I earn I send my family."
"I can not do anything else. That is why I work here. "
3:18
Generally speaking Haitians in the Dominican Republic face some strong opposition, says human rights activist Sonia Pierre. Masses of workers are at the mercy of their superiors. Work permits are valid for zones that they can only leave with special permission. Yet the capital of Santo Domingo would be unthinkable without the Haitians. Most of the buildings in the city were built by them.
3:43
OT SONIA PIERRE, human rights activist
"A common practice, particularly in the building trade, is to let the Haitian workers work for a month. Shortly before they are to be paid, they call the immigration office. The workers from Haiti are reported as illegal, and expelled. With this common trick builders often save a lot of money. "
4:01
Political solutions are not in sight. In parliamentary elections the Haitians are not discussed. Only discussions of labour laws and social standards, catalysed by fair trade, may change things for them.
[4.16]
OT HARTWIG Kirn, Fairtrade Austria
“In the Dominican Republic the most important concern is that the farmers are empowered, so that it becomes possible for them to treat their employees better. We have seen quite clearly that the employer-employee relationships on Fair Trade farms are legal and that the Haitians don’t have to fear every day that they will be pushed away.”
4:39
The road to the village Chingello is regularly flooded during the rainy season. The church, school and shops remain inaccessible for days. Yet politicians have remained inactive. The fact that finally a 70-meter-long bridge is completed is thanks to the local people's cocoa business.
5:04
San Francisco de Macoris, the main cocoa-growing area. CO-OPROAGRO deliver cocoa to the U.S. and Europe from 1700 small farmers here, under the Fairtrade label, without using middlemen and exporters.
5:22
OT JUAN FRANCISCO THEN, President Cooproagro
"The economic crisis hit us badly. Two years ago we had to store the cocoa for months. But thanks to the cooperative all the farmers have survived it well. We have borrowed money from each other to survive. This year has been very good for cocoa exports. "
5:39
The minimum price guaranteed by Fairtrade serves as a safety net. Currently, revenues are high. This pleases Elvy Then Lizardo, who has inherited 2,400 cacao trees from his father. The farmer, agricultural student and chocolate lover is fully committed to the cooperative and the Fairtrade concept. Not least because of the social premium, which has allowed Chingello to have its bridge.
6:06
OT ELVY ANTONIA THEN Lizardo, cocoa farmer
"Each farmer works for himself, but is also a part of the cooperative, which in turn acts for all. And also holds important information. The doors to this information are open to all. I feel in good hands. "
6:23
The bright orange pulp that Elvy and his workers have released, is brought in bags, sometimes individually, to San Francisco de Macoris Cooperative. There the processing begins...
6:35
... first is the fermentation, in which the beans first develop their characteristic flavour and colour. Next is the drying, after which the shrunken beans can be packed and shipped to chocolate-producing countries. With various tests, the moisture, density and flavour of the beans are examined. The final ‘cut test’ is the "smell test" ....
7:02
Yet fair trade does not necessarily equate to prosperity. In the cooperative is Manuel Then, who manages only one hectare of land. He provides six boxes of raw cocoa for the equivalent of 170 €.
7:14
OT MANUEL THEN, cocoa farmer
"No, that's not enough to survive."
7:21
OT JUAN FRANCISCO THEN, President Cooproagro
"We want to help to make small farmers into medium-sized farmers. We offer training, provide information on opportunities but also on regulations on how the land should be managed. This has shown great success. The farmers produce more and better."
7:37
Before the export leaves the next morning, the cocoa of Cooproagro must still be taken to the port. The sudden rain makes the loading a laborious affair, because the beans cannot become wet.
7:52
Another 30 tons of cocoa are sent to Europe or the USA. It is hoped that growing awareness of the consumers and education about the living conditions of farmers in the producing countries will allow Fairtrade products to increasingly establish a place in the mass market.