AMSTERDAM — February 20, 2023 — The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA), the multi-stakeholder organization dedicated to organic cotton, today announced the publication of its annual Farm Programme Impact Report which heralds a new wave of farmers committing to organic cotton in India. OCA’s Farm Programme reports it has tripled farmer numbers compared to the previous year, with over 74,000 farmers participating during the 2021-2022 season.
加强农民业务案例
OCA associates this surge to the sharp rise in the number of in-conversion farmers working towards fully certified organic cotton status, from 4,000 to 22,500 compared to the previous season. High demand for organic certified cotton, lower input costs combined with strong support systems in place are encouraging more and more cotton farmers to start on the path towards organic, a three-year journey known as “in-conversion.”
致力于有机的棉花农民浪潮证明了强大的农民业务案例，培训和能力建设的有效性。在2021-22季的农民中，通过OCA的农场计划出售棉花的农民比当地的传统同行获得了更高的净收入，差异6％。除了有机棉的高价市场价格外，超过400万欧元的售价超过400万欧元，以购买其种子棉花。
It is the sixth year in a row when OCA, committed to securing organic and in-conversion farmer livelihoods, has successfully bridged the gap between conventional and organic farmers’ earnings. Strengthening the farmers’ business case in the organic cotton sector is paramount to building capacity and ensuring that it does pay to go organic, making it easier for more conventional farmers to take the first steps towards it.
Ruud Schute, Programme Director at OCA said: “We truly take the learnings and the feedback from our Farm Programme farmers to heart as we tackle some of this sector’s systemic challenges. The expansion of our program to include support for in-conversions farmers, developing the potential of Pakistan, and making sure farmers have the tools, training and support required, all highlight our mission to drive impact and improvements. Accelerating benefits for the farming community, safeguarding their environment, and transforming the entire supply chain.”
“我不想回到传统的农业方法。我的大部分投资用于肥料和农药，进而对我的农业土地的土壤健康产生负面影响。我已经决定将有机农业扩展到所有农作物，因为它逐渐改善了土壤健康。我的首要任务是维持丰富的活土壤。
畅销书材料与创新高级项目专家Danique Lodewijks评论说：“对于畅销书，我们的原材料的采购非常重要，非常重要，可以创造透明度并了解种植我们棉花的农民。因此，至关重要的是，我们与OCA合作，OCA是一个致力于有机棉花的组织，以可信赖的数据驱动方式，通过其实施合作伙伴在本地的地面上脚步。这种直接农业的方法还通过长期承诺和吸收协议来确保农民的商业案例。”
Amit Shah, CEO and founding partner, Spectrum Cottfibers LLP, added: “The journey with OCA has been both enlightening and fulfilling for the farmers and the program partners. Its the only industry driven platform that has managed to get all the players in the supply change on a single format of the ‘Farm Commitment Agreement’ that in a neutral manner looks at all costs involved and provides adequate assurances to all concerned. Additionally, Project Partners and Farmers associated with OCA have truly benefited from the new OCA curriculum and toolkit even as it continues to be rolled out across the country. My congratulations to the team at OCA, the retailers, civil society members and supply chain partners that have made this a success along with the entire farming community.”
Continuing the momentum
Alongside the established Farm Programme, now in its sixth year, the Impact Report highlights the importance of investment of OCA’s Contributors and the sector at large. The organisation has ensured the momentum continues by bringing new brands, suppliers, and farming partners onboard, developing and distributing the first Training Curriculum for the Organic Cotton sector and pursuing funding to build capacity and training projects. Expanding the Farm Programme into Pakistan with a pilot during the past season provided OCA with important guidance to kick-start its operations in the country which launched during the 2022-23 season.
Posted: February 20, 2023
Source: The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA)
