Fair Trade Forum - India

A mid-term review meeting of Fredskorpset partners is being held at FTF-I. The meeting, which started on 19th January 2012 at FTF-I, New Delhi will conclude on 21st January. Catherine Wilczek, FK Asia Office, Mr. Ghanshyan Shrestha, Executive Director, FTG-Nepal, Mr. Chitra Bahadur KC, FTG-Nepal, Mr. S.C.Mittal Secretary, FTF-I, Mr. Iyhta Mallikarjuna, Executive Director, FTF-I and Mr. O.P.Yadav, Director-Programs, FTF-I are participating in the meeting.  

Read more: FK Review Meeting

A Fair Trade Fair is being organized at Ahmedabad from 19th to 22nd January 2012 by Fair Trade Forum – India in association with Sahaj. Fifteen member organizations will display and sell wide range of products such as handicrafts, handloom % silk apparels, fashion & home accessories, herbal cosmetics and natural food. In addition to the member of FTF-I, tribal crafts made of terracotta and wood from Gujarat will also be sold in the Fair. The Fair is being organized in partnership with HIVOS.

Noah’s Ark celebrated its 25th Anniversary on 3rd January 2011 at Moradabad. Artisans associated with Noah’s Ark have taken part along with their families in the celebrations.  Mr. Samuel  Masih, founder, Noah’s Ark explained about the organization's 25-year journey. From FTF-I, Mr. Iytha Mallikarjuna, Executive Director, Mr. Jayakumar, Director-Communications as well as Farida Khatun and Kunjni Shakya-FK Fellows participated in the program. Rajashtani Folk performance by Patasi Devi group added much fanfare to the event.  

Stakeholders of Fair Trade Cotton Supply Chain Development project - FTF-I, CTM Altromercato Italy, Chetna Organic, IIRD and KRUSHI met at Yavatmal for a one-day concluding seminar on organic cotton cultivation. Seminar was attended by more than 40 participants. P.Sridharan Nair, Vice President, FTF-I, O.P.Yadav, Director-Programs, FTF-I, Vittorio Leproux, CTM Altro Mercato,  from Chetna Organic Producers Company - Ashutosh, CEO, Mrinal, Quality Control Manager, from IIRD  Joy Daniel, CEO of and Deepak, CEO of Krishi as well as Technical Officers, Farmer Cluster Presidents and Secretaries, farmers’ representatives, technical officers, cluster leaders also took part in the seminar. 

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'Dharohar' FAIR TRADE INDIA shop was launched on 22nd December 2011 at Baroda. The shop is an initiative by Sahaj, Dahod. The first Dharohar shop, was launched in 15th July 2011.The product line of both the shops include bamboo products, furniture, garments, fabric, cushion covers, corporate gifts, jewellery, key chains, fabrics and hangings. At present   Sahaj is working with more than 1200 women artisans  and the organisations has so far able to create niche market for tribal products from the area in which they are working. Ms. Jabeen Jambughodawala, President, FTF-I and co-founder of Sahaj, Mr. S.C.Mittal, Secretary, FTF-I and Mr. Iytha Mallikarjuna, Executive Director, FTF-I participated in the inaugural ceremony. 

Read more: Launch of Dharohar FAIR TRADE INDIA shop

Sadhna launched the FAIR TRADE INDIA brand on 23rd December 2011 in a get together organised at the shop at Old Fatehpura Udaipur. Nearly hundred Fair Trade artisans, staff members and trustees of Sadhna participated in the brand launch. Ms. Leela Vijaya Vergia, Chief Executive of Sadhna opined that brand will add more visibility to the shop. From FTF-I, Jayakumar, Director - Communications also participated in the launch. A 4-day discount sale is also going on as part of the Brand Launch.