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More farmers embrace organic cotton says OCA report

01/04/2022
More farmers embrace organic cotton says OCA report
In its latest report, Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) says it has seen the number of farmers participating in its programme rise to as many as 80,000 in the 2021/22 cotton season. This is also the first year that the organisation dedicated to supporting organic farming, building connections with brands and improving transparency and traceability, has included ‘in-conversion’ projects in its impact report. “By helping farmers navigate the challenges of the in-conversion period, we can improve their livelihoods in the same way we do for organic certified farmers and increase the supply of organic cotton. [It is] a win for all,” the report states. H&M Group is following a same line of thinking and has added ‘in-conversion cotton’ to its list of sustainable materials.

In 2021, the number of farmers engaged in OCA’s Farm Programme increased by 180% and on average they earned 21% more in net profit from their cotton per hectare compared to local non-organic peers, the report highlights.

For the 21/22 season, OCA said it will be working with ten brands and retailers, 11 ‘Implementing Partners’ and close to 79,000 farmers across six Indian states, covering 58,000 certified organic farmers and 21,000 in-conversion farmers.

Looking ahead to the next season, OCA plans to expand its pilot Farm Programme in Pakistan where it has partnered with the Islamabad branch of CABI, an NGO established by the United Nations to support and solve problems in agriculture and the environment. Soorty’s Organic Cotton Initiative (SOCI) is a part of this new drive.

The OCA impact report highlights the business case for farmers to switch to organic cotton, as it says its members, on the brand and retailer side, contribute funds to essential services such as training in organic practices, supplying seed and bio-inputs, and guaranteeing procurement at a premium price.

Image: OCA via Twitter

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