Fair Trade... A fairer deal for the farmer Growing concern over the disparity of living standards and market opportunities between the developed and developing countries has seen the steady growth of a fair trade market and companies who believe in redressing these trade inequalities. NASFAM has in theory potential for entering both the organic and the fair trade markets. However, the practicalities of controlled production at the smallholder level would make it very difficult to gain certified organic producer status. Although the fair trade market does not offer returns quite as high as the organic markets, NASFAM’s mode of operation and structure do fit it very well within the fair trade model. In 2004, Mchinji Area Smallholder Farmers Association exported 53MT of groundnuts to Europe under Fair trade. NASFAM is currently completing the process of obtaining Fair Trade registration for the 2005 season. More on the current Programmes being taken by Fair Trade Nuts, Here's a link to an article in the Observer by Nick Mathiason - Fair trade hopes take root - Can Malawi's newly empowered farmers transform one of the world's poorest countries?