Ethiopia by Richard Human

Mulugeta farms 3 acres of coffee and just over ½ acre of maize for family needs and to sell. This is an average farm size in Choche. They also have an ox and 3 cows. Speaking about the advantages of Fairtrade for his family, Mulugeta said. ‘First there is an educational benefit to the children because of the extra classrooms at the school. And with the extra income, both from Fairtrade and from the dividend paid by the Coop, we can buy clothes and books for them. There is also the benefit of safe water from the protected spring when the village water supply is interrupted.’ During the worst years of the coffee crisis, when Mulugeta received almost nothing for his coffee, his ½ acre of maize kept the family alive, but they had to sell their cows, and for some time the children did not go to school. With Fairtrade he is hopeful that those days will not return. © 2008 by Richard Human ALL RIGHTS RESERVED