Organic and Fair Trade
Cotton in Africa
by Saro G. Ratter
(Dipl.Ing.agr.)
Introduction
• Initiative of private companies:
ORGANIC EXCHANGE
www.organicexchange.org/
• Initiative of NGOs:
www.organiccottondirectory.net/
• EU – Programme:
“Fair dialogue- mutual benefit:
responsible cotton stewardship”
www.organiccottoneurope.net/
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Organic Cotton Conference
February 2004 in Hamburg, Germany
• EU-Organic Cotton Working Group met
in June 2004
• 2nd Organic Cotton Conference in
Cotonou, Bénin in October 2004
• The Conference Declaration and
further information can be found at:
www.organiccottoneurope.net/.
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Factors for improvement
• Good extension service
• Better basic agricultural know-how
• Better know-how about low risk and
sustainable production systems
• Reduced dependency of income on only
one cash crop
• Food security (in quality and quantity)
• Reliable input supply
• Good infrastructure for the marketing
of agricultural products
• Reliable and fair market partners
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bioRe - Training Centre
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bioRe - Training Centre
FFS – Training on use of ox-weeder
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Integration of trap crops
Sunflower + Pigeon peas
Chemical free production
does not mean organic.
The soil fertility must be
improved or at least
maintained in an organic
production system.
This is the main principle
laid down in the IFOAM
and EU - Regulations for
Organic Agriculture.
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American Bollworm
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Benefits of Organic Agriculture
Benefits for the farmers
• Increased productivity compared to
traditional farming.
• Higher profits for the farmers.
• Diversification of the agricultural
production
• Additional income by marketing of other
crops
• Less health risks for the farmers by not
using chemical insecticides.
• No risk of working days lost as no health
hazards with botanical insecticides
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Benefits for the village community
• Creation of new employment in the village.
• Additional income for the village.
• Less environmental pollution of soil and
water by not using chemical insecticides.
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Benefits for the country
• Higher foreign currency earnings for
the country because of the higher
value of the exported certified organic
cotton.
• Less foreign currency spent on
imported agricultural inputs like
chemical insecticides.
• Better reputation for the country
which can be useful for the tourism
industry.
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FFS - Farmers Field School
Planting Moringa trees
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Sowing in rows
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Soil erosion
Control measures
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Compost making
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Cotton + Sunflower
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Harrowing with ox-weeder
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bioRe Farmers with their groundnuts
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bioRe farmers with Pigeon peas + Sesame
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The UK market
Towards 10% organic by 2010
• € 36 million – 0.2% of cotton textiles sales
in 2002
• But sales increasing at 38% per year (2003)
and accelerating
• The sector grew 60% in 2003
• Organic cotton use has more than doubled
between 2001 and 2003
• However, at this growth rate 10% will only
be achieved in 2015, unless…
The UK market
Towards 10% organic by 2010
• At least one major retailer starts an
organic cotton programme each year.
• And new organic production begins
requiring over time some 25-50,000
small farmers.
Source: Simon Ferrigno, PAN-UK
Steps to develop organic cotton -1
• Accept that organic cotton production is
possible
• Accept that organic cotton production can
be a profitable option for many African
farmers
• Abolish regulations that hinder organic
agriculture (e.g. mandatory use of
chemicals)
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Steps to develop organic cotton -2
• Allow botanicals for pest control
• Protect the organic producers against
GM varieties
• Research in organic farming practices
• Provide a qualified and efficient
extension service and training for the
farmers
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Support to organic cotton -1
• Financing of research and training (at
least 5-10% of the research funds)
• A strong participation of the farmers
to determine the priorities of research
• Assistance in set-up of Internal
Control Systems
Extensionists measuring a plot
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Support to organic cotton -2
•
•
•
•
Financing certification
Partnership with textile companies
Contract production
Preferential and tariff free access
for sustainable textiles in the EU
• Setting targets like 10% OC by 2010
• No subsidies for chemicals
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More Information
about
www.biore.ch
International Environmental Award
for
Sustainable Development Partnerships
from ICC and UNEP in the context of the
World Summit on Sustainable Development
in Johannesburg in the year 2002.
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Summary:
• A holistic approach is required to
improve the ecological and economic
conditions of cotton production.
• Organic cotton is an option for many
farmers.
• Organic cotton production works in
diversified production systems.
• Know-how about organic farming
methods can replace chemical inputs.
• Partnership with fair and reliable
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business partners is important.