8.1 Why farmer ethics must be written clearly

8.1.1 In agri business, farmers are often spoken about with emotion, but treated with inconsistency.

8.1.2 Some businesses exploit farmers quietly. Others overpromise and fail them later.

8.1.3 This Article exists to ensure that:

• Farmers are treated with respect and fairness, and

• The business remains realistic, disciplined, and sustainable.

8.1.4 Ethics without business sense harms everyone. Business without ethics destroys trust.

________________________________________

8.2 How this business views farmers

8.2.1 Farmers are partners in value creation, not just suppliers of raw material.

8.2.2 At the same time, farmers are independent economic actors, not dependents of the business.

8.2.3 This business will not:

• Treat farmers as labor, or

• Position itself as a savior.

8.2.4 Mutual respect requires:

• Clear expectations,

• Honest communication, and

• Shared responsibility for outcomes.

________________________________________

8.3 Fairness, not charity

8.3.1 This business believes in fair pricing, not artificial price support.

8.3.2 Prices will be linked to:

• Quality,

• Reliability, and

• Compliance with agreed practices.

8.3.3 Paying higher prices without quality discipline eventually hurts both the business and the farmer.

8.3.4 Support provided to farmers must:

• Improve capability,

• Reduce risk, or

• Improve long-term income stability.

________________________________________

8.4 Transparency in engagement

8.4.1 Farmers must clearly understand:

• What the business expects,

• How prices are decided, and

• Why rejections or deductions happen.

8.4.2 This business will avoid:

• Hidden deductions,

• Vague quality criteria, and

• Changing terms after harvest.

8.4.3 Documentation and traceability are tools for clarity, not control.

________________________________________

8.5 No false promises

8.5.1 This business will not promise:

• Guaranteed prices across seasons,

• Assured procurement regardless of quality, or

• Income outcomes it cannot control.

8.5.2 Agriculture involves risk.

Honesty about risk builds more trust than unrealistic assurance.

8.5.3 When things go wrong due to external factors, communication must be early and clear.

________________________________________

8.6 Shared responsibility for quality

8.6.1 Quality is a shared responsibility.

8.6.2 The business is responsible for:

• Providing clear guidelines,

• Offering reasonable support, and

• Maintaining fair evaluation systems.

8.6.3 Farmers are responsible for:

• Following agreed practices,

• Maintaining honesty in supply, and

• Accepting outcomes linked to quality.

________________________________________

8.7 What this Article protects us from

8.7.1 This Article protects the business from:

• Dependency-based relationships,

• Emotional pricing decisions, and

• Long-term distrust.

8.7.2 It also protects farmers from:

• Unclear expectations,

• Sudden policy changes, and

• Exploitation through complexity.

________________________________________

8.8 In simple words

This business believes:

• Fairness is non-negotiable,

• Clarity is kindness, and

• Long-term relationships are built on truth, not promises.

________________________________________

8.9 Why this Article follows Article 7

Article 7 decides which products deserve to exist.

Article 8 decides how people who make those products are treated.

Together, they keep the business profitable and principled.