And as you heard, the interim agreement lasts until April of next year, and if the two sides cannot sign an agreement by that time, the BSCFA farmers won't be allowed to deliver any more cane.
If that happens, the farmers will have to sign individual contracts with the mill so that they can continue their delivery. ASR/BSI's lead personalities have said in multiple press conferences that they are willing to facilitate this. But, representatives from the associations have warned that if a farmer does this, he or she will forfeit their earnings derived from the premiums paid by Fairtrade International.
We asked the Chairman about that:
Marcos Osorio - Chairman, SICB
"If an agreement is not reached then the letter also says that if they interim agreement expires and there is no new agreement signed then only members of associations that have commercial agreement will be able continue delivering their cane and for BSCFA, those who wish to continue would need to sign individual contracts."
Daniel Ortiz
"Sir it has been suggested by multiple individuals in the industry that if the cane farmers are forced sign individual agreements with the mill that might take away their eligibility for fair trade premiums."
Marcos Osorio
"That is accurate, the fair trade organizations certifies farmer organizations. There is no knowledge registered where an individual farmer is registered fair trade, so what is being said it is true as to fair trade principles and standards that fair trade certifies registered farmer organizations and primarily having to do with small growers, so yes that is true, if farmers decided to sign individually, each farmer may have his own decision, each farmer is free to decide that is why we have freedom to associate like we have freedom of speech."
This afternoon, the BSCFA made this post on their Facebook Page. In it, the BSCFA alleges they have received reports that BSI is visiting members of the BSCFA, with the aim of having them sign an individual agreement with the company. They are urging their members NOT to sign any contracts.
