Fairtrade Certification: Capacity Building for Cooperative Credit Societies

The Ministry of Industry, SME and Cooperatives, in collaboration with the Mauritius Sugar Syndicate, the Mauritius Cane Industry Authority, Fairtrade Africa and the National Co-operative College, organised a Training of Trainers on Fairtrade Certification for Cooperative Credit Societies. Three training sessions were held on 1, 3 and 8 September 2026 at the Farmers Service Corporation in St Pierre.

The training aimed to strengthen the capacity of Cooperative Credit Societies (CCSs) by providing participants with the knowledge and practical guidance required to secure and maintain Fairtrade certification. Some 44 participants representing 30 CCSs attended the sessions, which targeted both existing Fairtrade Certified CCSs seeking to maintain their certification and societies interested in joining the Fairtrade system.

The initiative is in line with the Government Programme 2025-2029, which provides for the reengineering of the cooperative sector, with a focus on clustering of societies and maximising existing benefits, including Fairtrade certification. It forms part of Government’s efforts to support CCSs in increasing the production of Fairtrade sugar while ensuring compliance with Fairtrade Standards.

The resource persons comprised experts from Fairtrade Africa, Mauritius Cane Industry Authority, Mauritius Sugarcane Industry Research Institute, Mauritius Sugar Syndicate, University of Mauritius, Cooperatives Division of the Ministry and other professionals with expertise in occupational health and safety and Fairtrade Standards.

Participants were sensitised on key areas ranging from Fairtrade Standards, compliance with the Co-operatives Act 2016, accounting procedures, democracy and transparency, labour conditions and workers’ rights, environmental practices, weed control to safe use of herbicides and sprayers, and health and safety. The sessions also provided opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing and the exchange of practical experiences among Fairtrade Certified CCSs.

Fairtrade in the Sugar Sector in Mauritius

The Fairtrade initiative has been implemented in Mauritius’ sugar sector since 2009. There are currently 21 Fairtrade Certified CCSs, which produced a total of 15,113 tonnes of Fairtrade sugar during the 2025 crop season and benefited from a Fairtrade Premium of US$60 per tonne of sugar sold. The potential demand for Fairtrade Certified sugar is estimated at around 35,000 tonnes, representing an opportunity for further expansion of Mauritius’ quota in this premium market.

Through the Fairtrade Premium, CCSs have implemented various development and social projects for the benefit of their members, namely mechanisation support, capacity-building programmes, sugarcane transport services and the provision of agro-inputs at discounted rates.

One example is the L’Escalier Co-operative Credit Society, which has been Fairtrade Certified since 2011. With 230 members cultivating some 298 hectares of sugarcane land, the Society produced around 1,500 tonnes of sugar in the 2025 crop year. It has undertaken several initiatives as per the Fairtrade requirements, which comprise promoting sustainable agricultural practices, providing personal protective equipment to members, environmental training, renewable energy through solar photovoltaic panels, and measures to prevent child labour, forced labour and harassment.

The Society has also used the Fairtrade Premium to support its members through financial assistance for new sugarcane plantations, cash grants, personal protective equipment and social projects, while investing in facilities and renewable energy. These initiatives demonstrate the contribution of Fairtrade certification towards improving the socio-economic well-being of small sugarcane planters and promoting sustainable practices within the cooperative sector.

11 September 2026

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Topics: Cooperatives