A field visit to Kerala and Gujarat in February 2026 offered a close look at two Fairtrade-supported initiatives that are making a real difference for smallholder farmers and their communities. Daniela Aichmann, Project and Fundraising Manager at Fairtrade Germany, joined colleagues Thejus KS, Project Coordinator, and Prakash, Fundraising and Partnership Manager at Fairtrade NAPP, for a series of meetings and field interactions that confirmed how the work is progressing and where it is heading.

Two projects were at the centre of the visit. The first is a newly launched initiative focused on youth engagement in coffee production in Kerala. The second is a livelihood and community awareness programme in Gujarat, implemented with Rapar and Dhrangadhra Farmers Producer Company Limited (RDFC). Together, they reflect a shared commitment: that Fairtrade's work must be rooted in what farmers and communities actually need.

In Kerala, the visit marked the formal start of the project Empowering Youth in Coffee Production in India, a three-year initiative running from 2025 to 2028. Meetings with the Forum for Fairtrade Organic Betterment (FFOAB) and field interactions with farmers from Fair Trade Alliance Kerala helped shape the project design based on what farmers shared directly, ensuring it reflects their realities and priorities from the outset. A meeting with Dr. Rudragouda from the Regional Coffee Research Station (RCRS) in Wayanad established a technical collaboration for agronomic and sustainability support.

In Gujarat, the monitoring visit reviewed the progress of the Income Generation Activities Fruit Plantation Project and the Social Development Activities Program, both implemented with Rapar and Dhrangadhra Farmers Producer Company Limited (RDFC). The visit confirmed strong community participation, effective implementation, and visible outcomes on the ground.

What Farmers and Communities Are Gaining

Kerala: What Coffee Farmers Stand to Gain

With the project now formally underway and producer organisations already engaged in shaping its direction, coffee farmers in Kerala can expect the following outcomes as activities progress through 2028:

• Technical support for sustainable coffee farming.  Through the collaboration established with RCRS Wayanad, farmers will have access to agronomic guidance rooted in local research. This support is designed to improve both the quality and sustainability of their crop and is directly informed by farming conditions in the region.
• A stronger voice for youth and women in farming.  The project is structured to bring young people and women into the centre of coffee production. Planned intergenerational knowledge exchange sessions will connect the experience of older farmers with the energy and ideas of the younger generation, and leadership opportunities within producer organisations are built into the project design.

Gujarat: What Farmers Have Already Gained

The monitoring visit found that the RDFC programmes are well on track and delivering tangible benefits for farming households and surrounding communities:

• New income from fruit plantation.  Nine thousand fruit saplings have been successfully procured and planted. These represent a long-term source of income for farming households and contribute to the environmental sustainability of the land they farm.
• Healthier soil through vermiwash units.  Ten vermiwash units have been established across farming communities, giving farmers a practical and affordable method to improve soil fertility and crop health without relying on costly external inputs.
• Broader awareness and knowledge reaching across communities.  More than 40 wall paintings covering health, environment, and rights have been put up across 11 villages. Over 300 farmers have participated in exposure visits that widened their understanding of what is possible in their farming practices. More than 1,000 farmer calendars have been distributed, supporting informed, season-by-season decision-making throughout the year.

Looking Ahead

The February visit confirmed that both projects are on solid ground. In Kerala, the three-year programme now enters its activity phase with farmers and producer organisations already contributing to its direction. In Gujarat, the focus turns to deepening the impact of what is already working and exploring how both programmes can reach more people. Fairtrade NAPP continues to work alongside producer organisations, farmers, and communities to build on this momentum.