Fair Trade Alliance Kerala (FTAK) was founded in 2005 in the Malabar Coast of India. Its 3,500+ member farmers came together in response to their struggle against indebtedness. FTAK farmers grow a host of tropical products such as cashews, coconut palms, coffee, cocoa, pepper, nutmeg, vanilla and other spices on their small plots. The mixed crop plantations play an important role in preserving local biodiversity, while at the same time safeguarding the food security of the farming members. Farmers of FTAK take pride not only in providing food security within their community while helping to preserve the wildlife in their shared land, but in empowering women to take co-op leadership positions.

Thomas lives in Kundera, Kerala with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law. He has about three acres of land where he grows cashews, coconuts, bananas, spices and rubber trees. Since joining the fair trade cooperative, Thomas has noticed an increased stability in his monthly income. This allows him to budget and plan for house repairs and education.

In the fields and with my crops, I can directly see the impact of climate change. Cashew trees are not flowering, yields have decreased due to unpredictable rains and drought.