Final harvest report 2014 by Marc Peter

BETTER COTTON INITIATIVE 2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

NOTE FROM THE CEO Growth is Good (But How to Measure it?)

Welcome to the Better Cotton Initiative 2014 Harvest Report.

In most sustainability circles, growth is viewed as a bad thing. After all, we are depleting the planet’s resources, and expanding CO2 emissions linked to our insatiable quest for more ‘stuff’ are cooking the planet. Well, in 2014 BCI grew dramatically, but for once this growth is great for planet and people. In 2014, 1.2 million farmers participated in our programme, up 79% from the prior year, and those farmers produced 2 million metric tonnes of Better Cotton, up 118%. (We continue to forecast increased growth in 2015 with our share of global production

This year marks the fifth harvest of Better Cotton and we have a lot to celebrate! As we reach this milestone, our momentum is growing on the journey to Better Cotton becoming a mainstream commodity. On the following pages you will find the latest global results, results by country and updates on our strategic thinking and progress.

More importantly, the underlying premise of our model was confirmed by our 2014 results: higher yields, reduced inputs of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, resulting in much higher income for our farmers. The results we observed this year

Better Cotton is sown and harvested in different annual cycles all over the world. In some regions sowing and harvesting take place in the same calendar year, and in others these activities spread over two calendar years. For example, in the southern hemisphere cotton sown in the last months of 2013 is referred to as the 2014 harvest, whereas in other regions, cotton harvested in the last months of 2014 and the first few weeks of 2015 is also referred to as the 2014 harvest. All of the data in this report refers to the 2014 harvest.

increasing from 7.6% to over 11%.)

compared to farmers not yet using our methodology are inspiring. BCI Farmers in Pakistan for example, achieved an average of 9% greater yields while using 15% less pesticide 18% less water. Further to achieving this, they generated a staggering 46% increase in income.

Because this report is published later in 2015, you’ll also find references to our 2015 thinking as we learn from our previous experience and work to continually improve the Better Cotton System.

Growth is good. With results like these, our greatest challenge is to grow even faster. We are currently represented in 21 countries, and there is a long waiting list of other interested countries, so we are confident the trend will continue.

We hope you enjoy reading about our year.

Human nature always leads us to highlight the ‘agronomic’ side of our programme as I have done above because progress is presented in neat, quantifiable results that tell a compelling story. However, of equal importance to BCI is progress on the softer, ‘social’ side. But how do you measure ‘social’ progress? For example, in the areas where we operate we could measure ‘school registration of

White ripe cotton field ready for harvest, USA © Better Cotton Initiative

www.bettercotton.org 2013 HARVEST REPORT

2014www.bettercotton.org HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

children’. Then again, perhaps ‘school attendance’ might be more important than school registration. But does attendance at school mean that the child is not doing hazardous forms of child labour, e.g. applying pesticides, before or after class? Hmmm. This social stuff is a bit complicated. We engaged some experts to help us think through this ‘social measurement’ aspect. One of the things they recommended to us is that it is more important to show systemic change, than ‘counting for the sake of counting’. They also showed us that the best way to generate systemic change is by building partnerships, rather than trying to do everything ourselves. We’re

delighted to show you in this report our very first measurement results of social betterment. For each

country we operate in, we decided to measure the number of ‘active partnerships’ (defined by objective criteria) with other local groups engaged in child welfare that our Implementing Partners have entered into. You will also find in this report metrics on how well the communities we operate in understand the concepts of (unacceptable) ‘child labour’, and how this differs from (acceptable) ‘child work’ and the intolerable worst forms of (hazardous) child labour. We also began measuring in 2015 important indicators concerning the betterment of women (by far the largest element of the workforce in the production of cotton). We’ll report these first measurements to you in next year’s report. Reporting social indicators will probably never be as simple as ‘improvements in yield’ or ‘reduction in water used’. Nonetheless, at BCI we consider them just as important, and we will strive to improve the quality of our reported data, as we continue to grow around the globe in our quest to achieve scale and impact. Size matters. Patrick Laine, CEO

2014 HARVEST REPORT

CONTENTS

A WORD OF THANKS

This year, over 1.2 million farmers around the world have been able to apply the continuous improvement methodologies promoted by the Better Cotton Standard. But the farmers do not work alone. From the Standard to the field, BCI operates with a wide variety of organisations who together contribute in time, funds, collaboration and knowhow to help BCI Farmers bring about the results that are now in your hands.

BETTER COTTON IN 2014 OUR MISSION ............................................................................................................... 7 BETTER COTTON GLOBALLY ...................................................................................... 8 THE BETTER COTTON STANDARD SYSTEM ....................................................... 10 FROM FARM TO MARKET: FABRIC MILLS ............................................................... 11

FROM THE FIELD REPORTING ON RESULTS ACHIEVED ON BETTER COTTON FARMS .................. 14 ASIA CHINA .......................................................................................................................... 17 INDIA ............................................................................................................................ 23 PAKISTAN .................................................................................................................... 29 TAJIKISTAN .................................................................................................................. 35 TURKEY ........................................................................................................................ 41 AFRICA MALI ............................................................................................................................. 47 MOZAMBIQUE ............................................................................................................. 53 SENEGAL ......................................................................................................................59 NORTH AMERICA USA ............................................................................................................................. 63 BENCHMARKED STANDARDS ................................................................................... 67 AUSTRALIA .................................................................................................................. 69 ALGODÃO BRASILEIRO RESPONSÁVEL (ABR), BRAZIL ........................................ 73 COTTON MADE IN AFRICA ...................................................................................... 77

NGOs, retailers and brands, manufacturers, spinners, ginners traders, governments, foundations and other donors - too numerous to list individually here - we would like to use this opportunity to recognise your contribution. Thank you. See bettercotton.org for comprehensive coverage of BCI's Members’ and Partners’.

GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................... 4

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

GLOSSARY

ha hectares MT metric tonnes BETTER COTTON TRACER The online volume and transaction tracking tool used by parties authorised by BCI. These parties include ginning factories that volunteer to gin seed Better Cotton, and merchants, spinners, retailers and brands that are BCI members. BENCHMARKED STANDARDS Benchmarking is a process of comparing one organisation’s policies, practices, standards or systems with those of similar organisations, and identifying gaps between them. We work with other standards on benchmarking with the Better Cotton Standard System, ultimately allowing the cotton produced under that standard to be sold as Better Cotton, increasing global supply. LEARNING GROUP A group of farmers who meet to learn from each other and receive training on the Better Cotton Production Principles and Criteria. PRODUCER UNIT A collection of Learning Groups or Medium Farms. The size of a Producer Unit will depend on local circumstances, though the optimal size is between 3,500 to 4,000 smallholders or 100 Medium Farms. IMPLEMENTING PARTNER An organisation responsible for creating an enabling environment in a given project area(s) so that farmers can participate in the Better Cotton Standard System. These Partners implement capacity-building and training based on the Better Cotton Production Principles and Criteria, and collect data at field level.

BETTER COTTON IN 2014

SMALLHOLDER FARMS Producers whose cultivated cotton area does not exceed 20 hectares and who are not structurally dependent on permanent hired labour. MEDIUM FARMS Producers whose cultivated cotton area ranges from 20 to 200 hectares and who are structurally dependent on permanent hired labour. LARGE FARMS Producers whose cultivated cotton area exceeds 200 hectares and who are structurally dependent on permanent hired labour. ORGANIC FERTILISERS Carbon-based fertilisers derived from animal or vegetable matter. Examples include manure and other types of animal waste, compost and other types of plant waste. We also classify unrefined minerals (such as rock phosphate) under this category. Crop residue (green manure) is excluded. STRATEGIC PARTNER National or international organisation responsible for the coordination of Implementing Partners in a given country or region. Strategic Partners take significant leadership for Better Cotton in the country(ies) where they have been mandated by BCI. SYNTHETIC FERTILISERS Chemically, artificially manufactured fertilisers, mostly inorganic (mineral) compounds. Examples include NPK complexes, as well as single nutrient fertilisers such as Ammonium Nitrate, Urea (a synthetic organic compound) or superphosphates.

COMPARISON FARMERS Previously called ‘control groups’, Comparison Farmers are comparable producers operating in the same area as BCI project participants, but not receiving BCI training.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

Cotton close up © Better Cotton Initiative

www.bettercotton.org

THE BETTER COTTON STORY

OUR MISSION The Better Cotton Initiative exists to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it, better for the environment it grows in and better

Look down. What are you wearing? Chances are that one or more of your clothes are made from cotton. Or maybe it’s your bed sheets, towels or the bank notes in your pocket. Nearly everyone on Earth uses or wears cotton products every day. Cotton is a renewable natural resource but the future of cotton production is vulnerable to poor environmental management, poor working conditions and unstable markets. In 2005, a group of visionary organisations came together to work out a practical solution that would secure the sustainable future of the industry. The result was Better Cotton.

for the sector’s future.

BCI works with a diverse range of stakeholders, connecting people and organisations across the cotton sector from field to store, to promote measurable and continuing improvements for the environment, farming communities and the economies of cotton-producing areas.

Better Cotton means producing cotton in a way that cares for the environment through processes that minimise the negative impact of fertilisers and pesticides, and cares for water, soil health and natural habitats. BCI Farmers can achieve better yields and more financial security through access to global markets, whilst improving the working conditions in their fields. Cotton that is made in this way meets the Better Cotton Standard. The Standard has been developed by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), an independent, multi-stakeholder organisation whose members are committed to making Better Cotton a mainstream product. From NGO partners to garment manufacturers, from the farmers to household brand names, all BCI’s members are working to transform the way cotton is produced and safeguard the future of the sector.

transform cotton production worldwide by developing BCI

The Standard gives assurance that more sustainable farming is happening on the ground. Every step of cotton production, from sowing and growing to picking and harvesting, adheres to six production principles. BCI Farmers are also expected to continually improve their production processes. The Standard can be applied to different scales of cotton production – from smallholder farms in Mali, Mozambique and Tajikistan to large, industrialised operations in Brazil, China and Australia.

aims

Better Cotton as a sustainable mainstream commodity.

Top international brands including adidas, H&M, IKEA, Levi Strauss & Co., M&S and Nike already use Better Cotton in their supply chains. Their support and that of all BCI’s members means that more and more Better Cotton is coming onto the market. In

2014, 7.6% of all the cotton produced globally was Better Cotton. By 2020, we want this figure to be 30%. We believe 30% will be a tipping

point and lead to transformational change for the entire sector. That’s better for the farmers, the environment and the cotton sector, and that’s better for all of us.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

BETTER COTTON GLOBALLY 1.3 million farmers reached

1.2 million farmers licensed

Grown on 2.5 million hectares

2 million MT of Better Cotton lint

7.6% of global cotton production

20 countries 5 continents

TURKEY 530 BCI Farmers 13,000 Better Cotton hectares 23,000 Better Cotton MT lint

BCI projects

TAJIKISTAN 360 BCI Farmers 8,000 Better Cotton hectares 7,000 Better Cotton MT lint

Benchmarked standards: – MyBMP, Cotton Australia – CmiA / SCS – ABR, Brazil

CHINA 6,500 BCI Farmers 54,500 Better Cotton hectares 121,000 Better Cotton MT lint INDIA 270,000 BCI Farmers 456,000 Better Cotton hectares 283,000 Better Cotton MT lint

Global Reach

SENEGAL 3,600 BCI Farmers 3,000 Better Cotton hectares 1,200 Better Cotton MT lint

1,554,000

2,584,000

1,167,500

1,969,700

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

AUSTRALIA (myBMP) 22 BCI Farmers 27,000 Better Cotton hectares 54,000 Better Cotton MT lint

www.bettercotton.org

2010

2011

Area under Better Cotton Cultivation (ha) 2012

834,500

155,000 750,000

623,000 200,000

35,000

683,000 250,000

905,000

750,000 600,000 1,008,500 1,008,500

733,232

BCI farmers

65,000

440,000

240,000

PAKISTAN 102,000 BCI Farmers 353,000 Better Cotton hectares 310,000 Better Cotton MT lint

164,000

MOZAMBIQUE 75,000 BCI Farmers 52,600 Better Cotton hectares 9,500 Better Cotton MT lint Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) / Subsaharan Cotton Standard (SCS) 733,000 Farmers 972,000 hectares 346,000 MT lint

680,000

MALI 29,000 BCI Farmers 80,000 Better Cotton hectares 35,000 Better Cotton MT lint

90,000

BRAZIL (ABR) 190 BCI Farmers 558,000 Better Cotton hectares 768,000 Better Cotton MT lint

1,350,000 1,220,223

28,500

USA 21 BCI Farmers 7,400 Better Cotton hectares 12,000 Better Cotton MT lint

Better Cotton Production (MT lint) 2013

2014

2013 Benchmarked Partners 2014 Benchmarked Partners

2014 HARVEST REPORT

THE BETTER COTTON STANDARD SYSTEM

FROM FARM TO MARKET: FABRIC MILLS

The Better Cotton Standard System is a holistic approach to more sustainable cotton production which covers all three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. The Better Cotton Standard System is made up of the following key components: Production Principles and Criteria; Capacity Building; Assurance Program; Chain of Custody Guidelines; Claims Framework; and Results and Impact. Each of the components work together to support the system and the credibility of Better Cotton and BCI. Find out more at bettercotton.org/standard. 1. Farmers make an informed decision to participate in a BCI programme.

FARMERS ARE ORGANISED INTO THREE CATEGORIES:

6 PRODUCTION PRINCIPLES Crop Protection Water

Soil Health Natural Habitats Fibre Quality Decent Work

Smallholders < 20ha Medium Farms 20-200ha Organised in Learning Groups and Producer Units

Large Farms >200ha

2. Participating farmers have access to training and work towards BCI’s Production Principles & Criteria 24 production criteria across the 6 principles apply to all farm categories +20 additional criteria for Medium and Large Farms

3. Participating farmers maintain individual Farmer Field Books and participate in BCI’s Assurance Program

BETTER COTTON ASSURANCE PROGRAM 1. Better Cotton Performance Scale » Minimum Requirements i. Minimum Production Requirement ii. Management Requirements iii. Reporting on Result Indicators » Improvement Requirements 2. Farmers’ self-assessment 3. Combination of systematic or sample-based 2nd party credibility checks and 3rd party Independent Verification

2014 marked the beginning of our work to close the gap between spinners and retailers in our traceability system by allowing fabric mills to track their Better Cotton purchases. After a five month period of consultation with various stakeholders, in January 2015 we rolled out an improved version of the Better Cotton Tracer (our online traceability platform used by ginners, spinners and retailers to record purchases and sales of Better Cotton). The updated system now allows fabric mills to have user accounts for the system too, making them part of our traceability efforts. This change

means that BCI Retailer and Brand Members are able to trace their cotton purchases more accurately, and in some cases now have full visibility from field to fabric for the first time.

The system was first used by BCI’s existing fabric mill members. After a testing period of six weeks, the system was launched for the use of all fabric mills globally. The Tracer is intended to be functional and userfriendly. This, paired with a simple sign up process, has allowed most fabric mills to start using it to

declare their Better Cotton purchases within two weeks of application. The long-term vision for the Better Cotton Tracer is to also include the final actor in the supply chain: garment manufacturers. In the first quarter of 2016, we aim to further develop the traceability system to accommodate them. This will be a major step for BCI, closing the gaps in global traceability and giving our Retailer and Brand Members the option to tell the story of the Better Cotton product on its journey from field to store, for the first time.

“

The Better Cotton Tracer is a simple tool to enter our transactions and to keep track of our inventory. It took a few weeks’ time and some extra efforts to get our clients used to the new online system but thanks to the well-organised Webinars produced by the BCI Team, we feel that the new system has been successfully adopted by all the market participants.

”

Marco Bänninger, Reinhart

4. Those participating farmers meeting the minimum requirements earn the Better Cotton licence, and are able to sell their cotton on to ginners and further up the supply chain as Better Cotton.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

Fabric mill, India © Pratibha Synte

www.bettercotton.org

FROM THE FIELD

2014 HARVEST REPORT

Large cotton wrap in field, Arkansas, USA Â© Better Cotton Initiative

www.bettercotton.org

REPORTING ON RESULTS ACHIEVED ON BETTER COTTON FARMS From the first Better Cotton harvest five years ago, we have emphasised the importance of monitoring results achieved by farmers participating in the Better Cotton System. As such, we have built annual results reporting into the requirements of the Standard - the reason is twofold: » Inviting every farmer participating in BCI projects to record data related to agricultural inputs, costs and income earned from cotton is part of building monitoring and learning capacity at farm and community levels.

RESULTS INDICATORS 1. Pesticide use

The results presented in this Harvest Report compare country averages of key environmental, economic and social indicators achieved by BCI Farmers to comparable farmers in the same regions who operate outside of BCI projects. We refer to these latter farmers as the Comparison Farmers.

% difference between BCI Farmers and Comparison Farmers in kilograms (kg) of synthetic and organic fertiliser applied per hectare (ha) Farmers report on the category and exact composition of each fertiliser used. We store this information for use in future, more detailed studies. The long-term objective is to ensure an optimal application of nutrients that matches the needs of the crop, maintains long-term soil health and structure, makes economic sense and minimises off-farm pollution (notably eutrophication through nutrient run-off or leaching) and GHG emission (notably through nitrous oxide emissions and industrial nitrogen fixation).

3. Water use for irrigation

% difference between BCI Farmers and Comparison Farmers on cubic metres (m3) of water used for irrigation per hectare (ha) Use of water for irrigation is only measured on farms that irrigate. A cotton crop is considered irrigated if it receives one or more irrigations in a season. Rain-fed farms are excluded from the analysis.

5. Profitability

Existence of partnerships established by or on behalf of the Producer Unit with credible local organisations to specifically address child labour Partnerships, in the context of this indicator, are defined as documented working arrangements with a third party with expertise in either child labour remediation, child rights or supporting access to formal schooling. The partnership must include regular contact and joint activities that relate directly to the achievement of BCI Decent Work Criteria on child labour. The existence of a partnership with local specialist organisations is measured at the level of the Producer Unit working with smallholders and medium farms.

7. Elimination of child labour B

% of BCI Farmers who can accurately differentiate between acceptable forms of children’s work and hazardous child labour This indicator is measured using country-specific pictorial materials representing typical farm activities and making the distinction between those defined as hazardous labour under national law, compared to activities considered acceptable within the context of occasional light work performed within the family farming context. During collection of results, Field Facilitators conduct a test with each selected farmer and with control farmers. Each farmer is given a score based on his/her ability to make the distinction. The indicator is then calculated as the percentage of farmers who can accurately differentiate between child work and child labour.

MEASUREMENT % difference between BCI Farmers and Comparison Farmers in kilograms (kg) of active ingredient applied per hectare (ha) Pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, acaricides, fungicides as well as all substances used as defoliant, desiccant or growth regulators. We collect the type and concentration of active ingredient applied because this enables calculation of the chemicals contained within pesticides that are added to cotton farms.

% difference between BCI Farmers and Comparison Farmers on kilograms (kg) of lint cotton produced per hectare (ha) Total production at farm level is expressed in kilograms of seed cotton. We convert the unit of measurement to lint by multiplying the amount of seed cotton in kilograms by the average gin turnout ratio (set separately for each country). % difference between BCI Farmers and Comparison Farmers on net income earned from cotton per hectare (ha) This is calculated as the gross income received from the sale of the cotton crop minus the total variable costs of growing the cotton crop.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

MEASUREMENT

6. Elimination of child labour A

» At BCI, we believe that producing cotton more responsibly will lead to improved environmental, economic and social outcomes. One step toward measuring some of these changes is collecting annual farm-level data.

2. Fertiliser use

4. Yield

RESULTS INDICATORS

In the 2014 season, BCI introduced three new social indicators. We are pleased to report Indicator 7, ‘Elimination of child labour B’, for all applicable countries is in its first year of implementation. Indicator 6, ‘Elimination of child labour A’, has progressively been integrated into BCI’s and Implementing Partners’ monitoring processes throughout the 2014 season, and we expect full reporting for the 2015 season. In the Harvest Report, we present the results for India on page 26, where the process has been successfully trialled. Finally, the third new social indicator, ‘Inclusion of Women’, will be reported in the next annual Harvest Report. Indicators 1 to 4 are reported across all contexts, regardless of country, farm size or technology used on the farm. With regard to the improvement of livelihoods, however, we are primarily concerned with supporting and monitoring for smallholders and medium farms. The profitability indicator (a first step in understanding the economic situation) is therefore only collected from and communicated about smallholder and medium farms. Similarly, in regards to the indicators on the elimination of child labour, our greatest concern is monitoring and supportting progress in geographical areas typically dominated

www.bettercotton.org

by family smallholding and medium farms. Therefore, these social indicators are not reported by large farms. Due to differences in local conditions, we do not compare indicators between countries. Results are also only presented for one harvest year because within a country or a sub-area of a country annual results are affected by external factors that change year-on-year. Factors like rainfall, pest pressure and market price mean that comparing results across two to three years may not allow meaningful conclusions to be drawn. We are developing several processes for longitudinal analysis of results in countries that have been participating in Better Cotton for more than three years. With time, we will be able to move in this direction. FARMER-REPORTED RESULTS The starting point for all data collection and reporting associated with the results presented here is the information recorded by all farmers during the season in their Farmer Field Book or equivalent record keeping system. We provide a Farmer Field Book template indicating the type of information that is to be recorded by farmers. In contexts where a

2014 HARVEST REPORT

CHINA majority of participants have limited literacy skills, Field Facilitators assist farmers in tracking and recording the relevant information. The Farmer Field Book can also be in the form of a computerised record keeping system in the case of large farms. SAMPLING APPROACH FOR DATA COLLECTION During the harvest years between 2010 and 2012, BCI collected Results Indicator data from all farmers participating in the Better Cotton System. As Better Cotton expands–and the number of smallholders rapidly increases–the costs and effort associated with collection and management of data from hundreds of thousands of farmers become increasingly complex. Data from all medium and large farms is still collected. For smallholders, we developed a sampling methodology, which was reviewed and endorsed by researchers at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. The methodology includes the collection of data from a representative sample of Learning Groups that are randomly selected by BCI on a yearly basis at the end of the season. The Farmer Field Book is maintained by all farmers for learning purposes. On occasion, data was excluded from the analysis because it was assessed to be incomplete or because no comparison data was available for a Producer Unit. These instances have been noted on each of the country results pages with a percentage that indicates how representative the data is with respect to the BCI Farmer population. COMPARISON DATA Each Producer Unit and large farm we work with is responsible for collecting data from Comparison Farmers. These farmers can live in the same community as BCI Farmers, in neighbouring communities or in other nearby locations. Their key characteristics make them as similar to project farmers as possible. Comparison Farmers should present similar socio-economic characteristics as BCI Farmers. The characteristics of their farm should also be taken into account:

2014 HARVEST REPORT

» number and type of labourers » size » irrigation system » general soil fertility » crops grown » experience in growing cotton A NOTE ON DATA PREPARATION The results presented in this report are weighted national averages of farm-level results, comparing the averages of BCI Farmers to those of Comparison Farmers. The weighting is a standard statistical analysis method, done so that the proportions of each sub-country region represented in Better Cotton projects are similar in both the BCI Farmer group and the Comparison Farmer group at the country level. Outcome Evaluations and Impact Assessments In addition to the data reported by farmers, BCI annually contracts researchers or consultants to conduct independent Outcome Evaluations in two or more countries. These studies allow for a deeper investigation of the results using a sample of Comparison Farmers coupled with additional qualitative assessments, focus group discussions and other approaches. The findings of these independent studies allow us to corroborate–or not–the data we receive from farmers via our partners, and leads to a deeper understanding of how BCI interventions, coupled with the particular local context, lead to outcomes and results. Two such studies will be conducted in 2015. Furthermore, BCI encourages and supports longterm, scientific impact assessment studies conducted by expert researchers on an independent basis. We are currently collaborating on two multi-year impact assessment projects. A first study led and conducted by researchers from the Copenhagen Business School started in 2014 and will yield its first results in 2016. A second research study, commissioned by ISEAL, is conducted by a consortium of research organisations under the leadership of the Natural Resource Institute of the University of Greenwich. This study, which started in 2015, will extend to 2017.

BCI Farmer, China © Better Cotton Initiative

www.bettercotton.org

CHINA

3rd HARVEST

DEC

JAN Harvest SEP –Report NOV Harvest

Sowing MAR – MAY BETTER COTTON PROJECTS China

In 2014, China was the

- China

world’s largest cotton producer

GROWTH Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) 2012 2013 2014

producing around 24% of 11%

BCI Farmers

0.0

the world’s cotton.*

121,000

Comparison Farmers 0.5

(*source ICAC)

1.0

1.5

2.0

Water (m3/ha)

-16%

53,000

28,000

27,000

15,000

6,500

3,500

Shandong

6,000

Comparison Farmers

Hebei

54,000

BCI Farmers

Xinjiang

Better Cotton Production (MT lint)

0K 2K 4K BCI Farmers Awareness about BCI Farmers vs CompariORGANISATION son Farmers Child Labour Issues (kg/ha) into 10 Producer In 2014, BCI’s Implementing Partners worked with 7,028Pesticide farmers organised Performance

0% 6K

Units and 9 large farms. 6,458Yield farmers in China earned a BetterBCI Cotton licence. Farmers 11% 5% Low

-16%

Water

34% Basic

30%

Profit

In the Shandong and Hebei 6K 7K regions, favourable weather conditions enabled farmers to achieve greater 30% yields than the previous season. 10K 12K

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) BCI Farmers

61% Advanced

Organic Fertiliser

276%

Synthetic Fertiliser

-10%

CollectionBCI of Learning Farmers Groups = Producer Unit 1,355

2014 HARVEST REPORT

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

Number of Farmers Collection of farmers = Learning Group

Comparison Farmer 0

Comparison Farmers 349

BCI Farmers Akesu

world’s largest consumer of cotton too.

As a BCI manager and 3.0 husband, I recognised the need to raise awareness of women’s status 276% and influence in our community. BCI Farmer 1600 and PU Manager in China, running training on empowering women

-10%

Jintian

Farm Co. LTD.

Comparison Farmer 0

Not only is China the world’s largest producer of cotton, it’s the

Comparison Farmers

-16%

(*source ICAC)

-16%

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

Pesticide PRODUCER UNIT

For the last three years, the Chinese government have stockpiled large quantities of cotton with the intention of protecting farmers and the market from international trade and fluctuating prices. This policy was terminated in 2014, although the country still has upwards of 50 million bales of cotton in reserves.* This year, in the Xinjiang province of China, the government piloted a ‘target price programme,’ with the intention of guaranteeing farmers incomes whilst moving away from stockpiling cotton.

Profit (per ha)

BCI Farmers BCI farmers Area under Better Cotton Comparison Farmers Cultivation (ha)

3rd HARVEST

200

400

600

www.bettercotton.org

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

CHINA: results

3rd HARVEST

Harvest Report - China China

Harvest Report - China Harvest Report - China

Comparison Farmers BCI Farmers 0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

1.0

11%

China

Hebei Shandong Shandong Hebei Shandong

Harvest Report - China 2K 4K 6K

Comparison Farmers

BCI Farmers 0K mers vs Compari0K mers vs Compari- Pesticide (kg/ha) Comparison Farmers Pesticide ance mers Yield (Lint(kg/ha) Cotton MT/ha) (kg/ha) 0K ance vs Compari- Pesticide mers BCI Farmers 11% BCI Farmers mers BCI Farmers 11% -16% Pesticide Comparison (kg/ha) Farmers ance Comparison Farmers -16% -16% 11% -16% -16% 30% -16% 30%

ertiliser Fertiliser Hebei

276% 30% 276% -10%

Fertiliser Shandong ertiliser

-10% 276%

Comparison Farmers BCI Farmers 0.0 0.0 0.0 Comparison Farmers

2K 2K

Shandong

349 Comparison Farmers

-16%

30% 12K

10K

12K

10K -16% 0%

0.5 0.5

Comparison Farmer BCI Farmers 0 200 0K 1K 0 200 ComparisonFertiliser Farmer Synthetic (kg/ha)

1.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

-16% 2.5 2.0 2.5

2.0 1.5 2.0

1.5

0% 4002K 400 0%

600 3K 800 600 800

(kg/ha)

BCI Farmers BCI Farmers BCI Farmers

400

600

800

4K1000 1000 1000

1200 5K 1200 1200

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

Comparison ComparisonFarmers Farmer Comparison Farmer BCI Farmers

200

400

4K 600

6K 800

1000

8K 1200

1400 6K 1400

276%

Fertiliser

-10%

0% 0% 0%

3.0 3.0

5% Low

61%

61% Advanced

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

0% 200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

of Farmers

mers

Comparison Farmers

1,355

349

Organic fertiliser use increased among cotton farmers in China in 2014. The use of organic fertiliser is -10% BCI Farmers primarily noted in the Xinjiang region. There, BCI Farmers showed greater awareness of the benefits of organic and, in addition, received government subsidies that made its use cost competitive. In 0% Comparisonfertiliser Farmer the other regions, however, the high price of organic fertiliser relative to synthetic remained a barrier to use. 0

200

2014 HARVEST REPORT

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1.5

0% 6K 2.0

Hebei

0K BCI Farmers vs Compari0K Shandong son Farmers Pesticide (kg/ha) Performance Profit (per Profit (per ha) ha) Yield

11%

Water

-16%

Pesticide

-16%

BCI Farmers BCI Farmers Comparison Farmers Comparison Farmers

2K 1K

Yield Organic Fertiliser

11% 276%

Water Synthetic Fertiliser

-16% -10%

Pesticide

-16%

Number of Farmers Profit BCI Farmers

30% Comparison Farmers

1,355 Organic Fertiliser

349 276%

Synthetic Fertiliser

-10%

BCI Farmers

Comparison Farmers

1,355

349

8K 5K

10K 6K

-16% 0%

0.0

0.5 2K

1.0 4K

1.5 6K

2.0 8K

12K 7K

30% 0%

2.5 10K

3.0 12K

Among BCI Farmers reported on average 30% 276% higher profits than Comparison Farmers. BCIsmallholders, Farmers -16% BCI Farmers Through BCI training, many BCI Farmers throughout China managed to both reduce inputs (water, 0% Comparison Farmer 0% Comparison Farmers fertiliser and pesticides) and increase yields, resulting in higher profits. 0 0.0

200

0.5

400

600 1.0

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Organic Fertiliser Awareness of(kg/ha) Child Labour BCI Farmers BCI Farmers

800 1.5

1000

1200 2.0

Issues

1400 2.5

-10%

1600

3.0

5% Low

276%

AllComparison farmers licensed to sell Better Cotton are trained 0% and 0% Farmer obligated to understand what constitutes unacceptable and 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 acceptable forms of child work, as well as the importance of Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) education and ensuring the well-being of children in cotton-10%China BCI Farmers producing communities. The majority of BCI Farmers in demonstrated an advanced awareness regarding child labour.

61% Advanced

34% Basic

Comparison Farmer

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

China

India

SUMMARY OF RESULTS FOR SMALLHOLDER AND MEDIUM FARMS IN CHINA BCI FARMERS AGAINST COMPARISON FARMERS

276%

3K 1.0

3.0

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Comparison Farmer

0.5

11% 0%

WaterFarmers (m3/ha) BCI reported using on average 16% less water for irrigation than Comparison Farmers. 30% Farmers WaterBCI efficiency gains were primarily noted in the -16% Xinjiang region, where the majority of BCI Farmers BCI Farmers 0% Comparison Farmers adopted drip irrigation practices. 0% Comparison Farmers

Number of Farmers

0% 0% -10% 10K 12K 1400 1600 0%

0.0

0K BCI 34% Farmers Awareness about BCI Farmers vs CompariBasic Labour Issues son Farmers Child Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) 30% Profit Pesticide (kg/ha) Performance

276% 1600 7K 1600

1400 1600 -10% 30% -10%

BCI Farmers

ertiliser

12K 11%

5% Low

BCI Farmers used 200 on average 10% 800 less synthetic fertiliser than Comparison Farmers, but overall achieved -16% BCI Farmers 0 400 600 1000 1200 1400 1600 aComparison higher Farmers yield. This suggests a growing ability among BCI Farmers to optimise their use of inputs. 0%

-16%

30%

10K

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

0K mers vs Compari0 1,355 349 mers Comparison(kg/ha) Farmer Pesticide ance 11%

0K 0.0

-16%

Profit (per ha)

Water (m3/ha) Advanced BCI Farmers applied 16% less2.0pesticide active ingredient than Comparison Farmers. Organic Fertiliser0.0 (kg/ha) 0.5 on average 1.0 1.5 2.5 3.0 276% BCI Farmers -16% Farmers in Xinjiang suffered from pest pressure near river banks as a result of sand storms. SomeBCI areas 276% BCI Farmers 34% Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) 0% Comparison Farmer Farmers Comparison Farmers Overall, BCI were able to use their experience 0% to limit pesticide use. Basic

mers

Farmers Comparison mers 1,355 349 of FarmersFarmers

-16%

of Farmers -10% Synthethic Fertiliser Profit (perFertiliser ha) Synthetic (kg/ha) of Farmers Comparison 0 200

Fertiliser

BCI Farmers BCI Farmers Comparison Farmers Comparison Farmers

Hebei

2.0 -16% -16%

2.0

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

Xinjiang

2.0 0%

1.5

Water (m3/ha) Water (m3/ha)

11%

On average, 0% than Comparison Farmers. BCI Farmers Comparison Farmers BCI Farmers achieved an 11% higher yield -16% BCI Farmers 0K 1K 2K 3K 4K 5K 6K 7K used less pesticide, less synthetic fertiliser and less water for irrigation than Comparison Farmers. 0K 1K 2K 3K 4K 5K 6K 7K Xinjiang 0% Comparison Farmers In the(perShandong and Hebei regions, favourable weather conditions enabled farmers to achieve Profit ha) Profit (peryields ha) 0K 1K 2K 3K 4K 5K 6K 7K greater region sufferedBCI challenging climatic Farmers Awareness about 30% BCI Farmers than the previous season. However, the Xinjiang Child Labour Issues 30% BCI Farmers conditions, which negatively affected overall yields. Profit (perFarmers ha) 0% Comparison

Hebei

1,355 mers

0% 2.0

BCI Farmers Water (m3/ha) Comparison Farmers

ertiliser

Harvest - China 0.0 Report 0.5 1.0

11%

BCI Farmers

BCI Farmers Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) Comparison Farmers

0.5

Comparison Farmers

Harvest Report - China

BCI Farmers 0.0

11%

BCI Farmers

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

Comparison Farmers Water (m3/ha) Water (m3/ha)

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

1600

www.bettercotton.org

Yield

11%

Pesticide Use

16% 10% 276% 16% 30%

Synthetic Fertiliser Use Organic Fertiliser Use Water Use Profit

www.bettercotton.org

The results presented here were calculated based on data from 1,355 BCI Farmers and 349 Comparison Farmers. Some data was excluded from the analysis because no comparison data was available for one large farm. The results shown here are representative of 99.98% of BCI Farmers in China.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

INDIA Managing chemical use in China is resulting in strengthened ecosystems and the return of native species to agricultural land.

The BCI Implementing “Partner invited experts to improve our farming in a scientific way.

”

Mr Wang Jianjun, BCI Farmer in China. © Better Cotton Initiative

The Yellow River alluvial plain is home to a 5,000 year old civilisation and is a traditional farming region in eastern China. Cotton grows well in the area’s alkaline soil, and as a major commercial crop, it’s an important source of revenue for local farmers. In recent decades, the overuse of commercial fertilisers contributed to soil depletion and negatively impacted the area’s ecosystem. BCI Implementing Partner, Huitong, trained local farmer Mr Wang Jianjun and others to grow cotton while caring for the health of the soil and protecting native plants and animals. After BCI training, Mr Wang Jianjun abandoned highly toxic pesticides and began applying natural fertiliser. He soon noticed soil conditions improve with earthworms and birds returning to his farm. For two years now, larks have lived on Mr Wang Jianjun’s farm building nests in his cotton field.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

“BCI trained farmers to test the soil and save water in temporary channels. We also learned to plant trees as habitat for birds and beneficial insects,” said Mr Wang Jianjun. The BCI Standard helped Mr Wang Jianjun cut the use of costly and dangerous chemicals while repairing the natural ecosystem. Systematic training has helped improve management practices in the region throughout the pre-season, growing and harvest seasons. Thanks to these efforts, traditional farming communities in the Yellow River alluvial plain are enjoying the return of native species like the lark.

Training, India © Better Cotton Initiative

www.bettercotton.org

INDIA

5th HARVEST

DEC

JAN Harvest OCT – FEB

Sowing MAY – SEP

Harvest

Harvest OCT – FEBReport

GROWTH Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) 2013 2011 2012 2010 BCI Farmers

BETTER COTTON PROJECTS India Punjab

India

2014

500

10,000

BCI FarmersArea under BCI farmers Better Cotton Comparison Farmers Cultivation (ha)

Profit

PRODUCER UNIT

Pesticide

Comparison Farmers IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS 32% 0.0 0.2 -20%

160,000

1000

1500

Synthetic Fertiliser

73% -35%

0.6

Comparison Farmers Collection of Learning Groups = Producer 23,769Unit 7,196 BCI Farmers

2500

3000

25K

30K

35K

0.8

-20%

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

0% 200

300

400

500

600

700

800

2014 HARVEST REPORT

45K

“

In previous seasons it took 0%four to five pesticide sprays to control pests, but with 1.8 the inclusion of sacrificial crops, my overall expenditure on pesticides has reduced 73% substantially.

900

1000

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

”

Murlidhar Furange, BCI Farmer in Kupta village, Maharashtra, India

-35%

BCI Farmers

Comparison Farmers

3500

40K

BCI Farmers

100

and held the second highest spinning capacity in Asia.

(*source ICAC)

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

world’s second largest cotton producer

32%

Comparison Farmers

Number of Farmers Collection of farmers = Learning Group

2000

Better Cotton Production (MT lint)

0.4

59%

of the Indian textile industries raw material use.*

Iin 2014, India was the

All cotton -5% farmers in India are smallholders, producing cotton on less than 20ha of land.

-5%

Organic Fertiliser 55% Advanced

0.5

Cotton is arguably India’s most important fabric, making up around

0K 5K 10K 15K 20K BCI Farmers Awareness about BCI Farmers vs ComORGANISATION parison Farmers PerforChild Labour Issues Pesticide (kg/ha) mance worked with 284,058 In 2014, BCI’s Implementing Partners farmers organised into 96 Producer Units. 269,511 farmers in India earnedYield a Better Cotton licence. 10% BCI Farmers Water

0.4

283,000

0.3

93,000

47,500

Profit (per ha)

Tamil Nadu

18,000

35,000

12,500

Andhra Pradesh Karnataka

81,000

Comparison Farmers

Telangana

0.2

31,500

137,000

146,000

BCI Farmers

Orissa

456,000

270,000

Water (m3/ha)

Gujarat Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra

0.1

236,000

0.0

12% Low

This year, the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh 10% were affected by drought after sowing. This effected yields 0% and increased pest pressure 0.6 cotton0.7 on plants.

Comparison Farmers

Rajasthan

33% Basic

5th HARVEST

100

200

www.bettercotton.org

300

400

500

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

INDIA: results

e e

Harvest Harvest Report Report -- India India

BCI Farmers

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) 0.0 0.1 0.2 Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

11%

11% 11% -4% 68% -4% 32% -33% 32% -20% -20%

6,697

Comparison Comparison Farmers Farmers 6,697 6,697

rmers vs Comn Farmers Perfor11% -4%

0.6

0.7

0% 0% -4%

Profit (per ha) Profit (per ha)

0.1 0.1

0.2 0.2

0.3 0.3

500

1000

0.4 0.4

1500

0.5 0.5

2000

0.6 0.6

2500

India

3000

10K

-20% 68%

15K

20K

25K

BCI Farmers Pesticide (kg/ha) BCI (kg/ha) Farmers Pesticide

Harvest Report - India 0K 5K 10K 15K 20K 10K

15K

20K

25K 25K

22,128

6,697

45K

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

35K 35K

40K 40K

BCI Farmers 0

1.2

1.4

1.6

-20% -20%

Yield Andhra Pradesh Karnataka Water

11%

Tamil Nadu Profit

32%

1.8

BCI Farmers Awareness (kg/ha) on average 20% less pesticide active ingredient than Comparison BCI Farmers applied Farmers.about 53% Child Labour Issues 0% Comparison Farmers 0% Advanced 34% 0% Most cotton-growing regions felt pest pressure from early-season sap sucking Basic pests. Gujarat saw Comparison Farmers 68% BCI Farmers 0.0 0.4 0.2 0.6 0.8 1.00.4 1.2 0.5 1.4 1.6 1.8 0.0 of0.2 0.1 pink 0.3 0.6 0.7 the emergence the boll worm, and the northern were challenged by the cotton leaf 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.4 1.6 regions 1.8 0% 1.2 Comparison Farmers 0.0 13% curl virus, making the application of pesticides necessary. The close collaboration Low between BCI Water (m3/ha) Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) 400 600 800 1000 Organic Fertiliser0(kg/ha) 200 Farmers and agronomists enabled well-informed decision making to respond to these challenges. -4%68% BCI Farmers Synthetic (kg/ha) 68% BCI Fertiliser Farmers Biological pest-control measures were also widely practiced among BCI Farmers. 0% Comparison Farmers BCI Farmers Comparison

0% 0%

0 Comparison Farmers 0

500200 200

1000 400 400

Synthethic Fertiliser Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) (kg/ha) Profit (perFertiliser ha) 0 (kg/ha) Synthetic

100

1500

200

2500 800 800

300

400

Comparison Farmers Comparison Comparison Farmers Farmers

500

100 10K 100

15K

20020K 200

25K 300 300 30K

34% Basic

53% Advanced

32%

35K400 400 40K

500 45K 500

BCI Farmers Pesticide (kg/ha) used on average 33% less synthetic fertiliser than Comparison Farmers. This was in part due to improved access to expert advice from -20% agronomists that helped BCI Producer Units to BCI Farmers increase efficiency and achieve positive yields while reducing synthetic fertiliser use. 0% Comparison Farmers 0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

68% 0% 200

400

600

800

1000

Synthetic (kg/ha) The useFertiliser of organic fertiliser was 68% higher amongst BCI Farmers than Comparison Farmers. Due -33% benefits of organic matter, BCI Farmers used greater BCI Farmers to improved awareness of soil health and the 0% quantities of manure and other organic inputs. Comparison Farmers 0

100

2014 HARVEST REPORT

200

300

400

-4% 0%

500

1000

1500

2000

3000 11%3500

2500

Yield

11%

Number of Farmers -4% Water Profit BCI Farmers Pesticide 22,128

Comparison 32% Farmers -20% 6,697

Synthetic Fertiliser

68% -33%

BCI Farmers

Comparison Farmers

22,128

6,697

500

1000

1500

2000

2500 -20%

Profit (per Profit (per ha) ha) Comparison Farmers BCI Farmers 0.0

3500 0%

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

10K

15K

20K

25K

30K

1.4

1.6

32% 1.8

40K

45K 68%

Comparison Farmers

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) 0K

3000

35K

reported on average 32% 0% higher profits than Comparison Farmers. While input costs -20% (notably labour) continued to400rise, using less800pesticides and fertilisers to obtain higher average BCI Farmers 0 200 600 1000 yields allowed BCI Farmers to achieve greater profits. 0% Comparison Farmers Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) BCI Farmers

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2 -33%

1.4

1.6

Awareness of(kg/ha) Child Labour Issues Comparison Farmers Organic Fertiliser BCI Farmers 0

100

200

1.8

13% Low

0% 300

400

53% of BCI Farmers demonstrated0%an advanced Comparison Farmers awareness about child labour, 34% had a basic 0 200 400 600 800 1000 awareness and 13% (concentrated in a particular Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) region) showed a low awareness.

68% 500

53% Advanced

34% Basic

-33%

BCI Farmers

Comparison Farmers 0

100

200

300

400

China

500

India

Pakista

SUMMARY OF RESULTS IN INDIA BCI FARMERS AGAINST COMPARISON FARMERS

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) BCI Farmers

BCI Farmers

BCI Farmers vs ComBCI Farmers -33% Synthetic Farmers Fertiliser parison PerforPesticide (kg/ha) BCI Farmers Comparison Farmers mance

Number of Farmers

0% 0%

0% 5K

68%

Organic Fertiliser

3000 3500 1000 1000 0%

-33% -33%

0 0K 0

-20%

-33%

600 2000 600

BCI Farmers BCI BCI Farmers Farmers

-4%

Pesticide

11%

0.7

Profit (per ha) results only include irrigated farms, excluding rain-fed farms from the calculation. States Water use 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 32% BCI Farmers like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana in particular were affected by a prolonged Water (m3/ha) dry period during the early seaon. BCI Farmers reported using on average 4% less water for irrigation 0% Comparison Farmers than Comparison Farmers. Accurate water measurement -4% and monitoring is a challenge in India, BCI Farmers 0K 5K 10K 15K 20K 25K 30K 35K 40K 45K however, our Implementing Partners are working to develop 0% more practical methods. Comparison Farmers

BCI Farmers vs ComOrissa parison Farmers PerforPesticide (kg/ha) mance Telangana

45K 45K 0%

0.6

Comparison Farmers

Child Labour IssuesMaharashtra

13% Low

30K 30K

BCI Farmers Farmers OrganicBCI Fertiliser

Comparison Farmers

40K

0.5

Yield (LintFarmers Cotton MT/ha) Comparison

Andhra Pradesh Punjab Karnataka

0% 0%-20%

Comparison Farmers

armers

35K

0.4

Harvest Report - India

Telangana

32% 32%

Comparison Farmers Comparison BCI Farmers

-33%

er of Farmers

30K

0.3

BCI Farmers

Orissa

Maharashtra

3500

0.2

Water (m /ha) Water (m3/ha)

Gujarat Madhya Pradesh

0.7 0%0.7

0.1

Rajasthan

11% 11%

Water (m3/ha) Water (m3/ha)

32%

Fertiliser

c Fertiliser

0.5

0% 0.0

BCI Farmers achieved on average an 11% higher yield -4% than Comparison Farmers. They used less BCI Farmers Tamil Nadu -4% BCI Farmers Profit (per ha)less synthetic fertiliser and less water for irrigation pesticide, than Comparison Farmers. Generally, Rajasthan 0% Comparison Farmers 0% with the exception of some states that Comparison weather conditions were favourable for cotton production, 32% BCI Farmers Farmers Gujarat Madhya Pradesh 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 experienced dry periods and resulting in lower 500 1000 cyclones 1500 2000 2500 3000 yields. 3500 0% Comparison Farmers 0 BCI Farmers Awareness about

er of Farmers er of Farmers

0.4

BCI Farmers BCI Farmers (m3/ha)

0.0 Comparison Farmers 0.0

11%

Comparison Farmers

Comparison Farmers BCI Farmers Comparison

-33% c FertiliserComparison -33% armers c Fertiliser Farmers

armers armers 22,128 22,128

0.3

Punjab

11%

Comparison Farmers

Fertiliser er of Farmers 68% 68% Fertiliser

22,128

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) BCI Farmers

rmers vs Com--4% Comparison Farmers 0K 5K rmers vs Comn Farmers Perfor32% n Farmers PerforPesticide Yield (Lint(kg/ha) Cotton MT/ha) 0.2 Pesticide (kg/ha) 0.0 -20% e

Fertiliser

India

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

Water

5th HARVEST

Harvest Report - India

rmers vs Comn Farmers Perfor-

c Fertiliser

INDIA: results

5th HARVEST

500

www.bettercotton.org

Yield

11%

Pesticide Use

20% 33% 68% 4% 32%

Synthetic Fertiliser Use Organic Fertiliser Use Water Use Profit

www.bettercotton.org

The results presented here were calculated based on data from 22,129 BCI Farmers and 6,697 Comparison Farmers. Some data was excluded from the analysis because complete data was unavailable for 22 Producer Units. Therefore, the results shown here are representative of 74.07% of BCI Farmers in India.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

PAKISTAN

Eliminating Child Labour – A new social indicator

The 2014 season marks the first year BCI collected results on Eliminating Child Labour – Leveraging Partnership with Local Specialist Organisations, one of two new social indicators we began measuring this year. While this indicator was not collected across all countries, we provide these preliminary results for India as an encouraging starting point off which to build. The indicator is described on page 15. The results demonstrate the persistent efforts of BCI Implementing Partners to address child labour, as well as to identify and reduce barriers for children’s education. We are excited and encouraged by the findings and plan to share information about proven good practices and encourage their adoption, as appropriate, in all countries in which BCI Farmers operate. Results In India, 27 out of 93 Producer Units (29%) reported engaging in partnerships to promote access to school for children in cotton-growing areas. These are the main categories of interventions and related partnership activities in which the Producer Units and local organisations were engaged: » Awareness raising programmes around child labour issues. In Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Punjab, programmes were undertaken in local schools to strengthen understanding both of what constitutes acceptable work on family farms and unacceptable forms of child labour, as well as measures that can be implemented to ensure children’s safety. These programmes are a great way to give child labour issues increased visibility across the whole community.

www.bettercotton.org

» Working with schools and teachers to monitor student attendance. In Punjab and Andhra Pradesh, Producer Units worked with school district offices and local schools to closely monitor student attendance. Meetings were scheduled with farmers’ families to promote education and the importance of children remaining in school during the cotton-picking season. These meetings were often held in cotton fields to accommodate farmers. » School rallies to advocate for children’s rights and ending child labour. Producer Units worked with government schools and children’s rights committees in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashta to organise rallies within villages. To complement these events, poster competitions were held as a way to encourage participation. » Migrant labour child education programmes. Local teachers were contracted in Rajasthan and Punjab to provide education to the children of migrant workers during the cotton-picking season. This programme helped to accommodate and facilitate easier access to education for migrant worker families, who constitute the most disadvantaged and vulnerable communities within the farming sector. » Community theatre events themed around child labour issues. In Maharashtra, street plays were staged to raise awareness around the detrimental effects of child labour. Such events are an engaging, informal way to elevate understanding in the community around child labour issues. These events were facilitated in partnership with a local civil society organisation that focuses on a variety of community issues such as art and culture, human rights, youth affairs and rural development and poverty alleviation. School children, India © Better Cotton Initiative

2014 HARVEST REPORT

Cotton farmer, Pakistan © Better Cotton Initiative

PAKISTAN

5th HARVEST

DEC

JAN

Sowing MAR – JUN

Harvest JULY – DEC Harvest Report

BETTER COTTON PROJECTS Pakistan

GROWTH Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) 2013 2011 2012 2010 BCI Farmers

500

Profit (per ha)

BCI Farmers BCI farmers Area under Better Cotton Comparison Farmers Cultivation (ha) 0K BCI Farmers Awareness about BCI Farmers vs Comparison Farmers PerforChild Labour Issues ORGANISATION Pesticide (kg/ha) mance 1% Low

Yield

PRODUCER UNIT Water Use Profit

28% Basic

Pesticide

185,000

0.4

20K

Collection of farmers = Learning Group

1500

2000

30K

2500

3000

3500

4000

0% 40K

50K

60K

70K

1.5

2.0

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) 102,054 farmers in Pakistan earned a Better Cotton licence. BCI Farmer

87% -19%

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS 0

BCI Farmers

Comparison Farmers

12,284

3,500

100

150

200

250

the amount of farmers involved in the programme.

“

Prior to the training, most of us were following ‘calendar application’ of chemical 0% pesticides, but through the 2.5 training sessions, we learnt to survey the fields through pest scouting and 87% checking the Economic Threshold Level (ETL) of different pests before applying 300 pesticides.

”

-19%

BCI Farmer, Pakistan

Cotton plant in Pakistan with thrips (pest) and spider (beneficial) © Better Cotton Initiative

Comparison Farmer

2014 HARVEST REPORT

contributing to higher yields.

more than doubling

90K

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) BCI Farmer

was advantageous for cotton production,

Pakistan has scaled up Better Cotton production in 2014,

4500 5000

80K

-15%

1.0

The climate in 2014

This year, APTMA (Pakistan’s largest textile trade association) have signed a pledge to champion 46% BCI with the objective of making Better Cotton a mainstream commodity country-wide.

BCI Farmers

Partners worked with 117,558 farmers organised into 46% 0.0 0.5 50 Producer Units and 11 large farms. -15%

Number of Farmers Collection of Learning

Groups = Producer Unit

cotton producer. 0%

Better Cotton Production (MT lint)

10K

0.8

-18%

Comparison Farmer 71% Advanced

0.6

-18% In 2014, BCI’s Implementing Comparison Farmers

Organic Fertiliser Synthetic Fertiliser

310,000

1000

21,000

39,000

59,000

46,000

Sindh

44,000

12,000

Comparison Farmers

fourth largest 9%

157,000

102,000

BCI Farmers

115,000

145,000

Water (m3/ha)

world’s

2014

0.2

353,000

260,000

Punjab

193,000

0.0

Pakistan is the

- Pakistan

Comparison Farmers

5th HARVEST

100

200

www.bettercotton.org

300

400

500

600

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

PAKISTAN: results Harvest Report - Pakistan

ec Fertiliser e

Harvest Harvest Report Report -- Pakistan Pakistan

12,284 12,284

Comparison Farmers Yield Cotton MT/ha) Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) Yield (Lint (Lint Cotton MT/ha) BCI Farmers 0.0 BCI Farmers

0.4

0.6

0.8

0.2 0.2

Comparison Farmers Water (m3/ha) WaterFarmers (m3/ha) achieved BCI

46% 9% 9% -15% -18% -18% 46% 87% 46% -15% -19% -15%

Comparison Farmers

Comparison Comparison Farmers Farmers 3,500 3,500

9% -18%

87%

0.4 0.4

500

BCI Farmers 0K BCI Farmers

10K

20K

30K

40K

12,284

3,500

50K

Comparison Farmers Comparison Farmers

-18% 0.8 0.8

9% 0%

0 0.0

60K

Comparison Farmers Yield (Lint(kg/ha) Cotton Pesticide

Pesticide (kg/ha)

10K 10K

20K 20K

30K 30K

70K

80K 46% 90K 46%

40K 40K

50K 50K

60K 60K

70K -15% 70K

80K 80K

MT/ha)

90K 90K 0%

BCI Farmers 0.0 BCI Farmers

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

-15% -15%

2.5

Yield

1% Low

0% 0%

Harvest Report - Pakistan

BCI Farmers 0K 0K

500

1000 0.2

1500

2000 0.4

2500

3000 0.6

3500

4000 0.8

4500 5000

Profit

28% Basic

0 BCI Farmer 0 0

500

0% 0%

501000 50

1500 100 100

2000

Synthethic Fertiliser Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) (kg/ha)

2500 150 150

3000 200 3500 4000 -19% 250 200 250

Profit (perFertiliser ha) Synthetic (kg/ha) Comparison Farmer BCIFarmers Farmer BCI BCI Farmer

ComparisonFarmers Farmer Comparison Comparison Farmer

0 0 0K 0

100 10K100

20K

100

4500 5000 300 300

71% Advanced

200

300

20030K

300 40K

200

300

400

50K400 60K 400

-19% -19% 500

46%

600 0% 0% 600 80K

500 70K 500

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

87%

BCI Farmer 0% 100

150

200

250

0% 0

100

2014 HARVEST REPORT

200

300

400

500

0.5

Organic Fertiliser Yield Synthetic Fertiliser Water Use

87% 9% -19% -18%

Profit

46%

Number Pesticide of Farmers-15% BCI Farmers Organic Fertiliser 12,284 Synthetic Fertiliser

Comparison Farmers 87% 3,500 -19%

Number of Farmers BCI Farmers

Comparison Farmers

12,284

3,500

20K

1.0 30K

40K

1.5 50K

60K

2.0

2.5 80K

70K

90K

on average 46% higher profits than Comparison Farmers. Overall, prices for key 87% BCI Farmer -15% the cost inputsBCI remained stable compared to 2013 prices, while of some pesticides rose slightly. Using Farmers 0% less inputs in combination with a higher average yield contributed to this positive result. Comparison Farmer 0% Comparison Farmers 0 0.0

50 0.5

100 1.0

1501.5

200 2.0

250 2.5

300

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Labour Issues Awareness of(kg/ha) Child Organic Fertiliser

1% Low -19%

BCI BCI Farmer Farmer

AComparison large Farmer majority of BCI Farmers demonstrated an 0% Comparison Farmer advanced awareness regarding child labour issues, 0 50 100 150 200 250 0 100 200 400 showed 500 28% had a basic awareness and300only 1% a Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) low awareness.

87%

28% Basic

0% 600

300

71% Advanced

-19%

BCI Farmer

0% 0

100 China

200

300

400

India500

600

Pakistan

Tajikistan

SUMMARY OF RESULTS IN PAKISTAN BCI FARMERS AGAINST COMPARISON FARMERS Yield

Pesticide Use

15% 19% 87% 18% 46%

Synthetic Fertiliser Use

300

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Generally, organic fertiliser use is low among cotton farmers in Pakistan. Farmers with smaller plots who also -19% manure are more likely to use it to boost soil fertility. BCI Farmer grow food crops and may have access to nearby animal Comparison Farmer

0% 0.0 0K

600

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

Comparison Farmers Farmers Comparison

46% 0%

Comparison Farmer

90K

BCI Farmers Pesticide (kg/ha)used on average 19% less synthetic fertiliser than Comparison Farmers, but overall achieved a slightly greater yield. Many Implementing Partners used -15% soil testing to ensure the optimal application of BCI Farmers synthetic fertiliser. 0% Comparison Farmers 0.0

46%

10K BCI Farmers Awareness about BCI Farmers vs Com-15% Pesticide parison Farmers PerforChild Labour Issues Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Pesticide (kg/ha)reported BCI Farmers mance 1%

ComparisonFertiliser Farmer Synthetic (kg/ha) Comparison Farmer

-18%

-15%

BCI Farmers Farmers BCI

Water Use

0% 0% Comparison Farmers (kg/ha) Organic Fertiliser 0% Comparison Farmers applied on average 15% less pesticide active BCI Farmers ingredient than ComparisonLowFarmers. 0.50.2 1.0 0.4 1.5 2.0 2.5 0.6 0.8pest 28%low in Pakistan.71% Farmer Due inBCIpart to0.0 weather conditions, overall pressure was generally 0.0favourable 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 87% Advanced Basic However, the emergence of pink bolworm late in the season posed a significant threat in some 0% Water (m3/ha) Comparison Farmer Organic Organic Fertiliser Fertiliser (kg/ha) (kg/ha) areas.BCI Under the guidance of100our Implementing Partners, BCI Farmers were able to control this pest -18%250 50 150 200 87% 300 BCIFarmers Farmer 0 87% BCI Farmer pressure while still reducing overall pesticide use. 0% Comparison Farmers

Comparison Farmers

-18%

BCI Farmers BCI Farmers

1000

Comparison Farmer

armers

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

Pesticide (kg/ha) Comparison Farmers Pesticide Comparison (kg/ha) Farmers

-19%

er of Farmers

0.6 0.6

0.8

Sindh Punjab Profit (per ha) farmers practice irrigation, predominantly through the use of canals and tube wells. BCI Water (m3/ha) on average a 9% higher yield than Comparison Farmers. In general, the climate All Pakistani 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 -18% 4000 4500 5000 -18% 46% in order to apply water more efficiently in 2014 was advantageous for cotton production, with the exception of some regions that were adversely Farmers used water scouting strategies and land-18% levelling BCI Farmers 0% Comparison Farmers 0% affected by Partners enabled BCI Farmers to use and uniformly. Profit (perFarmers ha) flooding. Expert agronomic advice from Implementing Comparison 0% 0% Comparison Farmers 0 500synthetic 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 water 3500 4000 4500 5000 than Comparison Farmers, while still less pesticide, fertiliser and less for irrigation 46%5000 BCI Farmers 0 less 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500 4000 4500 0K 10K 20K 1500 30K 200040K 250050K 3000 60K3500 70K 90K 0 500 1000 4000 80K 4500 5000 BCI Farmers Awareness about BCI Farmers vs Commaintaining positive yields. parison Farmers PerforChild Labour Issues 0% Comparison Farmers Profit (per ha) Profit (per Profit (per ha) Sindh Pesticide (kg/ha) mance Profit (per ha) ha) BCI Farmers 0 BCI Farmers

46% -15%

9% 9%

0.6

Water (m3/ha) Water (m3/ha)

Punjab

Pakistan

0% 0%

BCI Farmers 0.0 0.0

Fertiliser

c Fertiliser

0.2

Harvest Report - Pakistan 0.0 0.2 0.4

Comparison Farmers Water (m3/ha) Comparison Farmers

rmers vs Comn Farmers Perfor-

Comparison Farmers 9%

BCI Farmers

12,284 Farmers3,500 er er of of Farmers

armers armers

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) BCI Farmers

87% Fertiliser 87% Fertiliser -19% c Fertiliser er of Farmers -19% c Fertiliser

armers

Pakistan

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

rmers rmers vs vs ComCom- 9% n -18% nseFarmers Farmers PerforPerfor-

Fertiliser

5th HARVEST

Harvest Report - Pakistan

rmers vs Comn Farmers Perfor-

e se se

PAKISTAN: results

5th HARVEST

Organic Fertiliser Use Water Use Profit

The results presented here were calculated based on data from 12,284 BCI Farmers and 3,500 Comparison Farmers. Some data was excluded from the analysis because complete data was unavailable for 1 Producer Unit. Therefore, the results shown here are representative of 97.23% of BCI Farmers in Pakistan.

600

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

I established a facility “ to breed insects, rearing

TAJIKISTAN

and releasing thousands of beneficial parasitoids in my field to control harmful insects such as mealy bugs and other sucking pests.

”

Mr Sha Nawaz Mangsi, BCI Farmer in Pakistan

In the 2006-2007 growing season, the mealy bug caused huge economic losses to the cotton crop in Pakistan. In most cases, pesticides were not effective in controlling the insect. In the district of Sanghar, Pakistan, staff from BCI Implementing Partner, CABI, worked with cotton farmers in an attempt to combat the problem. Researchers here set out to find a biological solution. Using cotton plants infested with the mealy bug, researchers successfully bred natural parasitoids and predators. Staff placed mealy bug infested cotton shoots and leaves in trays under sheds in cotton fields. The trays attracted natural enemies of the mealy bug, which fed and reproduced on the infested plants. The parasitoids and predators produced in the trays naturally dispersed and were also manually collected and released in other fields. There is now a common saying among the cotton farmers of the region: “If you see kala jeet (a mealy bug parasitoid) in the cotton crop, there’s no worry”. Since its initial success, the project is being replicated in 80 more locations in the Sindh province.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

Similar efforts to control bollworms, which have also become serious pests in Pakistan, are underway. Infested bolls that do not open during the harvest season are collected and stored in specially designed wire gauze or porous cloth bags. While the parasitoids can escape from the bags, the larger bollworm moths remain trapped. The biological method for controlling bollworms shows great promise, but still needs further development. Sha Nawaz Mangsi, a BCI Farmer from Shadad Pur said, “I used to be unaware of how to identify beneficial insects - I even used to apply pesticides to them. The CABI facilitator helped me to distinguish between the harmful and beneficial insects on my farm. I established a facility to breed insects, rearing and releasing thousands of beneficial parasitoids in my field to control harmful insects such as mealy bugs and other sucking pests. Now I can easily identify and produce beneficial insects on my own.”

Field worker, Tajikistan © Better Cotton Initiative

www.bettercotton.org

TAJIKISTAN

TAJIKISTAN 2nd HARVEST

2nd HARVEST

DEC

JAN Sowing APR – MAY

Harvest

TajikistanBETTER COTTON PROJECTS

Harvest SEP- –Tajikistan DEC Report

In 2014, agrarian reform and privatisation continued in Tajikistan,

GROWTH Yield (Lint Cotton kg/ha) 2013

2014

53%

10,000

BCI Farmers

Water (m3/ha)

0.4

0.6

which mainly affected large farms. One1.0element of the land reform is the division of large, collective farms into smaller family and individually-owned farms with an average hectarage distributed per farmer.

0.8

7,000

Sughd

0.2

8,000

0.0

11,000

Comparison Farmers

11%

BCI Farmers

Khatlon

Area under Better Cotton Cultivation (ha)

Comparison Farmers 0 BCI Farmers vs Comparison Farmers Pesticide (kg/ha) Performance

ORGANISATION

13% Basic

Yield

53%

BCI Farmers

Water

11%

Comparison Farmers

PRODUCER UNIT Pesticide

-73%

Profit

239%

Organic Fertiliser

230%

Synthetic Fertiliser

87% Advanced

28%

Number of Farmers

Collection of farmers = Learning Group

Collection of Learning Comparison BCI Farmers Groups = Producer Unit Farmers 169

2014 HARVEST REPORT

500

2000

2500

Better Cotton Production 0% (MT lint) 1000

1500

In 2014, BCI’s 0.05 0.10 Implementing Partner worked with 360 Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) farmers organised into 2 Producer Units. BCI Farmers IMPLEMENTING PARTNER 0.00

0% All 360 farmers in Tajikistan earned a 0 10 20 30 40 Better Cotton licence. Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

0.20

0.25

Comparison Farmer

In 2013, Sarob decided to join BCI because it aims to increase cotton yield and create a better environment for producing cotton so that farmers can access the new international market for Better Cotton .

”

Mr. Muminov Muhammadi, Executive Director, Sarob

28%

BCI Farmers

Fertiliser and pesticides are mainly imported and therefore expensive in Tajikistan.

“

230%

Going forwards, Sarob will continue to work with GIZ’s technical support.

3000

0% 0.15

formally handed over its responsibility to Sarob - a Tajik cooperative of agronomists.

6K The climate in 2014 was adventageous for cotton production, contributing to higher yields 239% and limited pest pressures.

-73%

Comparison Farmer 0

Profit (per ha) Farmers BCIBCI farmers

BCI Farmer Awareness about Child Labour Issues

360

680

28,000

Comparison Farmers

GIZ (BCI’s former Implementing Partner during Tajikistan’s first season)

100

200

www.bettercotton.org

300

400

500

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

TAJIKISTAN: results 2nd HARVEST

Harvest Harvest Report Report -- Tajikistan Tajikistan Yield (Lint Cotton kg/ha) Yield (Lint Cotton kg/ha) 53% 53%

BCI Farmers BCI Farmers

0.2 0.4 0.0 0.2 - Tajikistan 0.4 Harvest0.0 Report

Profit (per ha) Profit (per ha) Water Farmers (m3/ha) BCI

Tajikistan

Yield (Lint Cotton kg/ha)

1K 1K

0.6 0.6

0.8 0.8

0.2

0.4

3K 3K

0.0

0% 0%

0% 4K 4K

0.6

5K 5K 0.8

53% 53% 11% 11%

-73% -73%

mers vs mers ance ertiliser

239% Compari239% 230% 230% 28% 53% 28%

ertiliser Fertiliser Fertiliser

11%

of of Farmers Farmers

mers rmers ertiliser 169 169 Fertiliser

-73%

239% Comparison Comparison Farmers Farmers 230% 20 20 28%

of Farmers 169

20 53% 11%

-73% BCI Farmers -73% BCI Farmers BCI Farmers Comparison Farmers Yield (Lint Cotton kg/ha) Comparison Farmers 0% Comparison Farmers 0.05 BCI Farmers 0.00 0.00 0.05 0 500 1000 Comparison Farmers

Comparison Farmer Comparison Farmers BCI Farmers 0 10 20 0 10 20 0.00 0.05 Comparison Fertiliser Farmers Synthetic (kg/ha)

28%

Fertiliser

2500 2500 5K

3000 3000 6K

0.10 0.10

1500

0.15 0.15 2000 0%

0.20 0.20 2500

53% 0.25 0.25

OrganicBCI Fertiliser (kg/ha) 1K Farmers 0K

30 30 0.10

BCI Farmers

BCI Farmers Comparison Farmer Profit (per ha) Comparison Farmer

40 40

50 50 0.15

60 60

70 70 0.20 0%

Comparison Farmer 0 BCI Farmers 0 0

100 100 10

200 200 30

300 300 40

400 400 60

500 239% 500 70

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) 230%

BCI Farmers 0%

Comparison Farmer 0

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

of Farmers

mers

Comparison Farmers

169

In Tajikistan, farmers who apply organic fertiliser primarily use cattle manure supplemented with 28% Farmers and chicken manure. some BCI sheep

Profit

239%

Organic Fertiliser

230% 28%

Synthetic Fertiliser

0% Comparison Farmers While BCI Farmers in Tajikistan reported improved profitability, the lack of accurate record-keeping 0.00 0.05 0.10 means 0.15we are 0.20 on behalf of comparison farmers not able 0.25 to report on this indicator with sufficient confidence. By joining BCI, farmers in the Tajikistan have (in many instances) for the first time been Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) trained in how to keep track of their expenditure and income and been given support in maintaining 230% Farmers usefulBCIrecords. 0%

Comparison Farmer 10

Awareness of Child Labour Issues

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

Number of Farmers BCI Farmers

Comparison Farmers

169

China

-73%

13% Basic

28% BCI Farmers Tajik law prohibits hiring school-aged children to pick cotton. To help ensure children attend school rather than work on0%farms, Sarob provides Comparison Farmer ongoing training and workshops for farmers. 0 100 200 300 400 500 A remarkable 87% of BCI Farmers demonstrated an advanced awareness of child labour and 13% had a basic awareness.

India IN TAJIKISTAN Pakistan SUMMARY OF RESULTS BCI FARMERS AGAINST COMPARISON FARMERS Yield

53%

Pesticide Use

73%

Synthetic Fertiliser Use

28% 230%

Organic Fertiliser Use Water Use

11%

87% Advanced

Tajikistan

Turkey

The results presented here were calculated based on data from 169 BCI Farmers and 20 Comparison Farmers, representing 100% of BCI Farmers in Tajikistan.

Comparison Farmer 0

-73%

BCI Farmers used on average 28% more synthetic fertiliser than Comparison Farmers, but overall Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 achieved a 0decidedly greater yield. BCI Farmers are actually following more closely the 28% BCI Farmers recommendations of agronomists. Our Implementing Partner is also increasing farmer access to Pesticide (kg/ha) 0% Comparison Farmer soil testing, which is further-73% empowering Tajik cotton producers to go beyond general recommendations BCI Farmers 0 100 200 application. 300 400 500 and further optimise their nutrient 0% Comparison Farmers 0.00

11%

Pesticide

ProfitBCI (per ha) Farmers

230%

0% 0%

53%

Water

87% Advanced

BCI Farmers vs Comparison Farmers Pesticide (kg/ha) Performance

0.25

6K 28% 28%

ProfitFarmers (per ha) BCI reported using on average 11% more water per hectare for irrigation than Comparison BCI Farmers Farmers. Effectively measuring water use in Tajikistan239% continues to be a challenge, but through Sarobâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extension work, BCI 0% Farmers are now better able to measure water use and will be able to Comparison Farmers use that knowledge to improve efficiencies future.3000 0 500 1000 1500 2000in the 2500

Yield

13% Basic

3000

0% 11% 80 80

1.0

11%

BCI Farmer Awareness about Child Labour Issues

239% 0% 0%

Synthethic Fertiliser Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) (kg/ha)

230%

ertiliser

2000 2000 4K

0.8

Comparison Farmers

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) on average 73% less synthetic pesticide active ingredient than Comparison Farmers. BCI Farmers applied Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Pesticide (kg/ha) 0.0 0.2 0.8 1.0 Farmers They BCI were able to achieve this0.4 in part 0.6 by working with 230% BCIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Implementing Partner to increase the 230% BCI Farmers -73% BCI Farmers biological control of pests, which are commercially produced and approved for use in cotton production. Water (m3/ha) 0% Comparison Farmer

-73% 239%

1500 1500 3K

Harvest Report - Tajikistan

Comparison Farmers

mers vs CompariComparison mers mers Farmers ance

1000 1000 2K

0.6

BCI Farmers

6K 6K 1.0

500 500 1K

0.4

Water (m /ha) Water (m3/ha)

11% 11% 53%

239% than Comparison Farmers. They used BCI Farmers achieved on average a 53% higher yield 239% BCI Farmers 11%optimised amounts and types of fertiliser. BCI Farmersless pesticide than Comparison Farmers and significantly 0% Comparison Farmers Comparison Farmers Comparison Farmers

0.2

Khatlon

0 mers vs Compari0 mers vs Compari0K mers Pesticide (kg/ha) mers Pesticide (kg/ha) ance Pesticide (kg/ha) ance Profit (per ha)

Comparison Farmers

1.0 1.0 Sughd

2K 2K

53%

BCI Farmers

Water (m3/ha) Water (m3/ha) Yield (Lint Cotton Yield (Lint Cotton kg/ha)MT/ha) BCI Farmers

0K 0K 0.0

2nd HARVEST

Harvest Report - Tajikistan

0% 0%

Comparison Farmers Comparison Farmers

BCI Farmers BCI Farmers Comparison Farmers Comparison Farmers Comparison Farmers

TAJIKISTAN: results

100

2014 HARVEST REPORT

200

300

400

500

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

TURKEY

2014 HARVEST REPORT

Portrait, Turkey Â© Orta Anadolu

www.bettercotton.org

TURKEY

TURKEY 2nd HARVEST

2nd HARVEST

DEC

JAN

Harvest SEP – NOV

Sowing APR – JUN BETTER COTTON PROJECTS

“

GROWTH

23,000

13,000

2014

13,000

2013

Manisa Kahramanmaraş

Hatay

530

Sanliurfa

Adana

280

Aydin Denizli

28,000

7,000

İzmir

BCI farmers

Area under Better Cotton Cultivation (ha)

Cotton grown with this criteria is hugely sought after in the textile world because big brands want their products to be produced from a cotton produced in better conditions.

”

Fuat Tanman, BCI Farmer, Turkey

Better Cotton Production (MT lint)

ude (generated) and Latitude (generated). The marks are labeled by Province. Details are shown for Country and Province. The data is filtered on Action (Farm (PU Code). The Action (Farm Category) filter keeps 4 members. The Action (PU Code) filter keeps 7 members.

ORGANISATION

PRODUCER UNIT

STRATEGIC PARTNER

In 2014, BCI’s Strategic Partner worked with 582 farmers organised into 16 Producer Units and one large farm. 534 farmers in Turkey earned a Better Cotton licence.

Collection of farmers = Producer Unit

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

The Turkish government does not currently permit planting of Genetically Modified (GM) cotton. This year, the Turkish government increased subsides for cotton farmers for fuel and fertiliser in an attempt to offset a drop in cotton prices and increased costs of inputs.

www.bettercotton.org

As BCI’s Strategic Partner,

IPUD is responsible for the implementation of the Better Cotton Standard System and the production of Better Cotton in Turkey.

In most regions, harvests were delayed because of unseasonally heavy autumn rains. In the worst cases, the rain led to losses in yield and quality. In the Çukurova and GAP regions, some farmers couldn’t harvest at all.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

TURKEY: results

TURKEY: results 2nd HARVEST

Harvest Report - Turkey Harvest Report - Turkey

Harvest Report - Turkey

Turkey

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

Harvest Report - Turkey

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) 0.0 0.5 Comparison Farmers Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

1.0

1.5

Water (m3/ha) BCI Farmers

1.0

1.5

Comparison BCI Farmers Farmers 0.0

Urfa

Comparison Farmers 0K Water (m3/ha)

0.5 1K

1.0 3K

1.5

Urfa

mers vs Comparrmers PerforPesticide (kg/ha) 0K BCI (kg/ha) Farmers mers vs Compar- Pesticide rmers Perfor- 3% Comparison BCI Farmers Pesticide Yield (Lint(kg/ha) Cotton MT/ha)

Harvest Report - Turkey 1K 2K

-9% 3% mers vs Compar28% rmers Perfor- -9% -8% 28%

Fertiliser

3% 789% -8%

Fertiliser Fertiliser

-9% -9% 789% 28%

Fertiliser anmaraş

-9% -8%

r of Farmers Urfa

789% Comparison rmers -9% Fertiliser r of Farmers Farmers

Fertiliser

56 Comparison Farmers

528Farmers r of

rmers

Comparison Farmers

528

mers vs Comparrmers Perfor3% -9% 28%

Comparison (kg/ha) Farmers Pesticide Comparison Farmers

789%

Aydin

0.5

28% 5K

1.0

2 2K

Synthethic Fertiliser 0% (kg/ha) Comparison BCI Farmers Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

5K -8% 0% 3%

1.5

2% Low

-8%

2.0

2.5

5K6

8 7K

BCI Farmers 0 BCI Farmers Comparison Farmers

0% 0%

Comparison Fertiliser Farmers Synthetic (kg/ha) Comparison Farmers 0 0 BCI Farmers 0K

100 100

200 200 1K

300 300

400 400

500 500 3K

600 600

-9% 10

700 700 4K

800 -9%800

0% 5K

900 900

0% Pesticide (kg/ha) BCI Farmers than Comparison Farmers, but overall Comparison Farmers used on average 9% less synthetic fertiliser achieved a slightly greater yield. This was in part due to better access to expert advice from -8% BCI Farmers 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 agronomists associated with BCI Producer Unit management. 0% Comparison Farmers 0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

China

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) 0% 2

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

Although Turkish famers are aware of the benefits of farm manure to soil health, the use of organic -9% the high cost of transportation. BCI Farmers BCI Farmers fertiliser is generally low due to lack of availability and are nonetheless showing greater awareness of the benefits of organic fertiliser and this represents 0% Comparison Farmers an increase from the last season when no organic fertiliser use was reported. 0

100

2014 HARVEST REPORT

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

3% 9K

Yield

Water

-9%

Profit

28%

BCI Farmers

Water BCI Farmers Profit 528 Pesticide

-9% Comparison Farmers 28%

-9%

BCI Farmers

Comparison Farmers

528

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

-8%

28%

2.5 0%

Comparison Farmers

5K 789%

BCI Farmers reported on average 28% higher profits than Comparison Farmers. Prices for key -8%10 BCI Farmers 0 2 4 6 8 inputs; fertilisers, pesticides and irrigation water, continued to rise moderately. Using less inputs to Comparison Farmers Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) achieve a slightly higher average yield contributed to this0%result. BCI Farmers

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5 -9%

Organic Fertiliser Awareness of(kg/ha) Child Labour Issues Comparison Farmers 0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

0% Farmers in Turkey demonstrated The majority of BCI an advanced0 awareness regarding child labour, 38%10 2 4 6 8 had a basic awareness and 2% (concentrated in a Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) particular region) showed a low awareness.

38% Basic 60% Advanced

-9%

BCI Farmers

Comparison Farmers 0

India

2% Low

0% 789%

BCI Farmers

Comparison Farmers

Number of Farmers

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

56 -8%

789%

BCI Farmers 0.0

0K -9% Synthetic Fertiliser BCI Farmers vs ComparBCI Farmers ison Farmers PerforPesticide Comparison (kg/ha) Farmers mance

Number of Farmers Yield

Profit (per Profit (per ha) ha) Comparison Farmers

-8% 789%

100

200

300

Pakistan

400

500

600

700

800

Tajikistan

900

Turkey

Mali

SUMMARY OF RESULTS IN TURKEY BCI FARMERS AGAINST COMPARISON FARMERS

789%

BCI Farmers

Kahramanmaraş BCI Farmers vs Comparison FarmersUrfa PerforAdana Pesticide (kg/ha) mance Hatay

Organic Fertiliser

60% Advanced

Comparison Farmers

Synthetic Fertiliser

28% 0%

Profit Farmers (per ha) BCI reported using on average 9% less water for irrigation than Comparison Farmers. 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 BCI Farmers Accurately measuring irrigation remains a challenge in 28% Turkey, in part because many farmers use Water (m3/ha) the flood irrigation method. BCI’s Strategic Partner, IPUD, is working with Turkish farmers as well as 0% Comparison Farmers waterBCIauthorities and1K academic institutions to improve both water efficiency and measurement -9% Farmers 0K 2K 3K 4K 5K methods. 0% Comparison Farmers

Organic Fertiliser

38% Basic

-9% 4

BCI Farmers 0K

Pesticide

38% Basic

10789% 9K

Profit (per ha)

528

BCI Awareness Aydin about Child Labour Issues

Synthetic 0 (kg/ha) BCI Fertiliser Farmers 0K 1K

Comparison Farmers

0% Comparison Farmers (kg/ha) Organic Fertiliser

r of Farmers

rmers

0%4K

-9%

Yield (LintFarmers Cotton MT/ha) Comparison

Urfa

Adana Hatay

BCI Awareness about Child 0.0 1.0 1.5 2.0 1.5 2.5 -8% BCI Farmers 0.0 Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) 0.5 0.5 2.0 BCI Farmers applied on average 8%1.0less pesticide active ingredient than Comparison Farmers. There Labour Issues 0% Comparison 789% BCI Farmers were early-season sucking pests in most cotton-growing regions, making necessary the application Advanced of60% Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Water (m3/ha) 0.0 1.0 threshold 1.5 2.0 2.5 pesticides. Using the economic spraying method based on pest scouting, BCI Farmers only 0% 0.5 Comparison Farmers -9% 789% BCI Farmers 2% Low sprayed when0 the level of pest caused significant risk to the cotton yield and quality. 2 4 6 8 10

-9%

Fertiliser

0.0

0K Comparison BCI Farmers Farmers BCI Farmers

-8%

Fertiliser

Turkey

28%

0K Comparison Profit (per Farmers ha)

2.0

BCI Farmers

Kahramanmaraş

9K 0%

BCI Farmers

1.5

Harvest Report - Turkey

İzmir

BCI Farmers achieved on average a 3% higher yield than Comparison Farmers. They used less -9% 1K 2K fertiliser 3K 4Kand5K 7K for 8K 9K BCI Farmers Profit (per ha)less0Ksynthetic pesticide, less 6Kwater irrigation than Comparison Farmers. Some BCI 0% Comparison Farmers Farmers had their harvest disrupted by rains, while Comparison Farmers who had planted later 28% BCI Farmers Profit (per ha) İzmir were not affected. This reduced the expected yield increase for BCI Farmers. 0K 1K 2K 3K 4K 5K 6K 7K 8K 9K 0% Comparison Farmers

anmaraş

1.0

Water (m /ha) Water (m3/ha)

0% 2.0

-9%

0.5

2.0

-9% 0%

Urfa anmaraş

528 rmers

0.0

3% 2.0

BCI Farmers Comparison Water (m3/ha)

anmaraş

Comparison Farmers

0%3%

Comparison BCI Farmers Farmers

0.5

BCI Farmers 3%

BCI Farmers Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

0.0

2nd HARVEST

900

www.bettercotton.org

Yield

Pesticide Use

Synthetic Fertiliser Use

Organic Fertiliser Use

789%

Water Use

Profit

28%

www.bettercotton.org

The results presented here were calculated based on data from 528 BCI Farmers and 56 Comparison Farmers. Some data was excluded from the analysis because no comparison data was available. Therefore, the results shown here are representative of 59% of BCI Farmers in Turkey.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

MALI

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

MALI

5th HARVEST

DEC

JAN

Harvest OCT – DEC

Sowing JUN – JUL

“

I have been growing cotton for nearly 40 years. We used to spray our 20ha with pesticides that even killed the snakes. After the treatments we didn’t feel well. We used to spray every two weeks, without any field observation first. I used an average of 120 litres of pesticides, costing me about 825 Euros. Since starting the Better Cotton programme in 2010, we have significantly reduced our pesticide use which increases our profits and is better for our health and our environment.

GROWTH 2014

3,300

Area under Better Cotton Cultivation (ha)

35,000

24,000

12,500

32,000

29,000

33,000

20,500

BCI farmers

10,000

3,600

Sikasso

10,500

MALI

2013

2012

80,000

2011

61,000

2010

86,000

BETTER COTTON PROJECTS

”

Better Cotton Production (MT lint)

OR PRODUCER UNIT

IMPLEMENTING PARTNER

STRATEGIC PARTNER

Collection of farmers = Learning Group

2014 HARVEST REPORT

Collection of Learning Groups = Producer Unit

In 2014, BCI’s Implementing and Strategic Partners worked with 51,516 farmers organised into 18 Producer Units. 29,061 farmers in Mali earned a Better Cotton licence.

www.bettercotton.org

40%

ORGANISATION

5th HARVEST

of rural households

2.5m people

depend on cotton for their livelihoods.

Cotton is Mali's largest crop export.

www.bettercotton.org

Since the Malian government started actively promoting cotton production in 1995, production has steadily increased.

Cotton yields suffered in 2014, due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Mali is now the 2nd largest cotton producer on the African continent.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

MALI: results

5th HARVEST

Harvest Report - Mali

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

Harvest Report - Mali

15%

BCI Farmers

0.1 0.2 Harvest Report - Mali

BCI Farmers 0.0

0.3

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.0

0.4

0.5

Comparison Profit (per Farmers ha) Water (m3/ha) BCI On average,

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

100K

Harvest Report - Mali

-51% 15%

mers vs Compari14% mers ance -51%

ertiliser

15% 12%

Fertiliser

-8% 14%

ertiliser

of Farmers

Fertiliser mers

-8% Comparison Farmers

2,774 of Farmers ertiliser

Fertiliser rmers

-51% 12%

799 12%

Comparison -8% Farmers

2,774

799

Comparison Farmers 0.00 0.05 0.10 BCI Farmers Comparison Farmers 0K 50K Comparison Farmers (kg/ha) Organic Fertiliser 0.0 0.1 Pesticide (kg/ha) 0.0 BCI Farmers

799 15% 14%

100K -51%

0.15

150K

-51%0.20 100K

0.25 150K

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) BCI Farmers 0 (per ha) BCI Farmers

200K 14% 0% 15% 0.35

0% 0.30 0%

Profit Synthethic Fertiliser Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) (kg/ha) Comparison Farmer BCI Farmers Comparison Farmer BCI Farmers Comparison Farmers 0 Comparison Farmer 0K Synthetic Fertiliser 0

50 500

(kg/ha)

50K 50

1000

1500

9% Low

100K 100

150 1500 150

150K

2500

0% 14% 0% -8% 0% 200 2000 2500 0% 200K 200 -8%

China

India

BCI Farmers less synthetic fertiliser than Comparison Farmers, but overall 0% Comparison Farmer used on average 8% -51% BCI Farmers achieved a notably higher yield. 50 100 150 200 0% Comparison Farmers 0

-51%

0.0

12%

BCI Farmers 12%

Fertiliser

-8%

Comparison Farmer 0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

of Farmers

mers

Comparison Farmers

2,774

799

BCI Farmers used on average 12% more organic fertiliser than Comparison Farmers. A manure or -8% BCI Farmers compost, depending on local availability, was applied to fields in order to improve soil health. 0%

Comparison Farmer 0

2014 HARVEST REPORT

100

150

Profit

15% 14% -51%

50K

100K

150K

200K

on average 14% higher profits than Comparison Farmers. Strong yields and -51%to this result. using less overall inputs contributed BCI Farmers

Comparison Farmers 0.0

Awareness of Child Labour Issues Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

Farmers is an area of concern in Malian cotton12% Child BCI labour production. All farmers licensed to sell Better Cotton0%are Comparison Farmer -8% Synthetic Fertiliser trained and obligated to understand what constitutes 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 unacceptable and acceptable forms of child work, and Synthetic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Number of Farmers the importance of education and ensuring the well-being Comparison -8% BCI Farmers BCI Farmers Farmers of children in cotton-producing communities. Efforts 2,774 799 Comparison Farmer were undertaken in Mali to ensure that children remained0% 0 50 100 150 200 in school during the harvest season. 50% of BCI Farmers demonstrated an advanced awareness regarding child labour, 41% had a basic Pakistan Tajikistan awareness and 9% showed a low awareness. Turkey Organic Fertiliser

9% Low

12%

50% Advanced

41% Basic

Mali

Mozambique

SUMMARY OF RESULTS IN MALI BCI FARMERS AGAINST COMPARISON FARMERS

Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha) Organic Fertiliser (kg/ha)

rtiliser

Yield

Pesticides

12%

100 1000

0K BCI Farmers Awareness about BCI Farmers vs Comparison Farmers Child Labour Issues Pesticide (kg/ha) reported Performance BCI Farmers

200K 0% 0.5

2000 -8%

14%

BCI Farmers Comparison Farmers

500

0.5

Profit (per Profit (per ha) ha)

200K 14%

0.2 51% less 0.3 pesticide 0.4 BCI Farmers applied on average active ingredient than Comparison Farmers. While 50% 12% Advanced jassids caused notable pest pressure across the country, BCI Farmers were generally able to control Water (m3/ha) -51% BCI Farmers Comparison Farmer this threat with(kg/ha) a lower use of insecticide through the0%systematic adoption of the economic threshold Organic Fertiliser BCI Farmers 0% 41% Comparison Farmers spraying method. A portion of BCI in Mali benefit from in Integrated Basic 500 1000Farmers 1500 2000 2500 a high level of experience 12% BCI Farmers 0 Comparison Farmers 0.0 Pest Management and are able to achieve very significant levels of pesticide reduction. Synthetic (kg/ha) 0% ComparisonFertiliser Farmer

mers vs Compariof Farmers mers Comparison BCI Farmers mers ance Farmers Pesticide (kg/ha)

2,774

50K

150K

0.4

50K

0.3

BCI Farmers

Farmers achieved a015% higher yield than Comparison Farmers, even though less 14% pesticide and less synthetic fertiliser was used compared to Comparison Farmers.

BCI Farmers 0K mers vs Comparimers Pesticide (kg/ha) Comparison (kg/ha) Farmers Pesticide ance Profit (per ha) BCI Farmers 0K 15% mers vs CompariYield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) BCI Farmers mers 14% Comparison Farmers Pesticide (kg/ha) ance BCI Farmers

0.2

Comparison Farmers

Sikasso

BCI Farmers BCI Farmers Comparison Profit (perFarmers ha) Comparison Farmers

0.1

No water use was reported. Cotton farming in Mali is rain-fed.

0 0.1

Water (m3/ha) Water (m3/ha)

15%

0.0

15%

Comparison Farmers

0.5 15% 0%

BCI Farmers Comparison Farmers Water (m3/ha)

Comparison Farmers BCI Farmers

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) BCI Farmers

0.4

Comparison Farmers Water (m3/ha)

BCI Farmers 0.0

Mali

Comparison Yield (LintFarmers Cotton MT/ha)

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

5th HARVEST

Yield

15%

Pesticide Use

51%

Synthetic Fertiliser Use

Organic Fertiliser Use

12%

Profit

14%

The results presented here were calculated based on data from 2,774 BCI Farmers and 799 Comparison Farmers. The results shown here represent 100% of BCI Farmers in Mali.

200

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

MOZAMBIQUE

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

MOZAMBIQUE 2nd HARVEST

JAN Sowing NOV – FEB

DEC Sowing NOV – FEB

Harvest MAY – AUG

BETTER COTTON PROJECTS

GROWTH

BCI farmers

Area under Better Cotton Cultivation (ha)

p based on Longitude (generated) and Latitude (generated). The marks are labeled by Province. Details are shown for Country and Province. The data is filtered on on (PU Code), which keeps 26 members.

9,500

1,300

6,000

Nampula

Zambezia

Better Cotton Production (MT lint)

ORGANISATION In 2014, BCI’s Implementing Partners worked with 77,415 farmers organised into 26 Producer Units. 74,824 farmers from 24 PUs in Mozambique earned a Better Cotton licence.

PRODUCER UNIT

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

2014 HARVEST REPORT

Through an initial partnership with the government, which saw BCI’s Minimum Production Criteria embedded in the country’s cotton legislation, IAM, BCI’s Strategic Partner, is anticipating that

to make 100% of its cotton production Better Cotton.

The price of cotton in Mozambique declined by 7% from the previous season.

$$$$

Synthetic fertilisers are generally not used in Mozambique due to lack of availibility.

Abnormally intense rains across Mozambique’s cotton-growing regions flooded many planted areas in the 2014 season. BCI Farmers fared well in the conditions, but cotton farming as a whole suffered throughout the country.

“

IAM has become the first government organisation to adopt the Better Cotton Production Standard as its national cotton system. BCI is delighted by the leadership example the Mozambique government is setting in this field.

”

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

Collection of farmers = Learning Group

2nd HARVEST

Mozambique will become the first country

52,600

Niassa

2014

75,000

2013 6,300

ozambique

MOZAMBIQUE

1st HARVEST

BCI CEO, Partrick Lane

Collection of Learning Groups = Producer Unit

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

MOZAMBIQUE: results

MOZAMBIQUE: results 2nd HARVEST

2nd HARVEST

Harvest Report - Mozambique

Harvest Report - Mozambique Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

Harvest Report - Mozambique 0%

Comparison Farmers

Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha) BCI Farmers

CottonBCIisFarmers grown as a rain-fed crop in Mozambique. Farmers do not record water use. Several BCI 57% Farmer groups, however, are increasingly using mulching to improve soil water retention. 0% Comparison Farmers

57%

BCI Farmers

0.00

Water (m3/ha) Yield (Lint Cotton MT/ha)

Mozambique

0.04

0.08

0.12

0.16

0.20

0.00

0.24 57%

Profit Farmers (per ha) BCI achieved on average a 57% higher yield than Comparison Farmers. BCI Farmers 0.04 0.08 0.12 0.16 0.20 0.24 65% BCI Farmers improved their0.00 discipline in implementing farming activities in a timely manner (for example: planting, Nampula 0% Comparison Farmers thinning, weeding, pest management and harvest). They also increased mulching for soil health, Profit (per ha) 0K 1K 2K 3K 4K 5K implemented 6K 7K a new monitoring tool to contribute to adopted rain water conservation techniques and 65% BCI Farmers integrated pest management. 0% Comparison Farmers 1K

Pesticide (kg/ha) Comparison Farmers Pesticide (kg/ha)

mers vs Comparrmers Perfor-

57% mers vs Comparrmers Perfor- 65% 12% 57%

r of Farmers

rmers

65%

12% Comparison Farmers

r1,088 of Farmers

337

rmers

Comparison Farmers

1,088

337

BCI Farmers

0.00

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35 0%

Comparison Farmers 0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35

0.40

BCI Farmers Awareness about Child Labour Issues 13% Advanced

BCI Farmers applied on average 12% more pesticide active ingredient than Comparison Farmers. 40% Low Pesticides are typically used in very low quantities in Mozambique, in part due to limited access to all types of agricultural inputs. In some areas, the emergence of a new pest, the cotton mealybug, created a particularly high threat. Many BCI Farmers, thanks to their improved and timely access to inputs and technical advice, were able to control this threat successfully.

47% Basic

Fertiliser (kg/ha)

Synthetic fertilisers are not used in Mozambique as they are rarely available in rural cotton-growing areas. BCI Implementing Partners have started introducing the use of fertilisers thanks to improved China India Pakistan logistics in selected areas – progress is, however, slow as farmers first need to become familiar with the economic benefit that the optimal use of fertilisers can bring before investing. Efforts to educate farmers through selected trials are underway. Organic fertilisers are also rarely used. Most farmers do not raise cattle or any animal that can provide enough manure to be used in their fields. To improve soil fertility, Implementing Partners are successfully promoting techniques like intercropping and crop rotation using maize, beans and sorghum.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

0.24

Pesticide (kg/ha)

BCI Farmers reported on average 65% higher profits than Comparison Farmers. Most BCI Farmers 12% BCI Farmers used a higher amount of pesticide, a major input cost in cotton production in Mozambique. This cost 0% Comparison Farmers was absorbed by higher incomes due to improved yields.

BCI Farmers vs Comparison Farmers Performance Yield

0.20

0% 0K

12% 7K

0.40 12%

0.16

65%

Comparison Farmers

0% 0.05

0.12

BCI Farmers

Pesticide (kg/ha)

BCI Farmers 0K

0.08

Profit (per Profit (per ha) ha)

Comparison Farmers

0.04

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

0.35

0.40

Awareness of Child Labour Issues

57%

The lack of secondary schools in many rural areas of Mozambique poses a structural challenge to children’s schooling, particularly at the high school level. BCI Implementing Partners make efforts Number of Farmers Comparison to raise awareness in the cotton producing communities, BCI Farmers Farmers attempting to ensure children attend school. In this first year of 1,088 337 measuring awareness about what constitutes unacceptable forms of child labour and what type of help is appropriate on family farms, 13% of BCI Farmers demonstrated an advanced awareness about child labour, nearly half (47%) had a basic awareness and 40% showed low awareness. BCI’s partners will continue to prioritise efforts to raise awareness in the coming Tajikistan Turkey Mali seasons. Profit

65%

Pesticide

12%

SUMMARY OF RESULTS IN MOZAMBIQUE BCI FARMERS AGAINST COMPARISON FARMERS Yield

57%

Pesticide Use

12%

Profit

65%

www.bettercotton.org

13% Advanced 40% Low

47% Basic

Mozambique

The results presented here were calculated based on data from 1,088 BCI Farmers and 337 Comparison Farmers. Some data was excluded from the analysis were no data was available from Comparrison Farmers. Therefore, the results shown here are representative of 17.3% of BCI Farmers in Mozambique.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

SENEGAL

Angela Anthony is 30 years old and a mother of eight children – six of which are twins.

The Maratane “ community sees a

positive example in my family that they can follow. They see the benefit in adopting the farming practices that we learnt in Better Cotton training.

”

Land allowances are managed by the government in Mozambique, and starting with just 0.5ha in 2000, as her family grew so did her land. With the help of her husband, she now earns her living farming cotton on 2ha of land in the Maratane community, Cuamba Province. When JFSsan first approched the Maratane community there was resistance to following new crop management practices. Angela applied the new practices to a third of her land to test the results. That year the village suffered from a drought and poor crops were produced, however, the area used to test new practices was the salvation of the season. This experience served as an example for

2014 HARVEST REPORT

her family and for the Maratane community as a whole, and the new practices were adopted in every area of cultivation. “In the training, I learned about the risks of use and handling pesticides, the danger to pregnant women, nursing women and children. Because of this, no woman or child has contact with pesticides in the Maratane community anymore.” Angela says that in this season the yield was higher than the past season, and that with increased profits she wants to improve the conditions of their house and buy clothes and school materials for their children.

www.bettercotton.org

SENEGAL

1st HARVEST

MALI Sikasso

DEC

JAN Harvest OCT – FEB

Harvest OCT – FEB

Sowing JUN – JUL

BETTER COTTON PROJECTS

FIRST HARVEST RESULTS

with our Implementing Partners: Sodefitex (Société de développement et des fibres textiles du Sénégal) and the FNPC (Fédération Nationale des Producteurs de Cotton du Sénégal) to bring you a full set of accurate results next season.

3,600

2014

3,000

Results Analysis

1,200

Kolda

BCI farmers

Area under Better Cotton Cultivation (ha)

Better Cotton Production (MT lint)

SENEGAL

ORGANISATION

“

Increased revenue from the last [Better Cotton] season will allow me to construct a building with 2 rooms in order to better accommodate my family.

”

Mamoudou Sabaly BCI Farmer, Senegal

Initial indications show positive results for BCI Farmers. Despite a high pest pressure in the cotton-growing area, farmers have significantly reduced their pesticide use. This is due mainly to the wide adoption of economic threshold spraying methods. We also found that the implementation of soil protection and restoration techniques and increased use of organic manure coming from barns and composters funded by the BCI project helped improve soil fertility in the Better Cotton fields. 2014-2015 was a difficult season for agriculture as a whole throughout Senegal. A deficit of rainfall coupled with a long delay in the onset of the rains caused droughts throughout the country. As a consequence, cotton yields were lower than expected and the production of food crops was insufficient to cover the needs of some farmer communities. Subsidies from the government for agricultural inputs combined with BCI Farmer training helped to bring production costs down and increase profits, despite lower yields. Sustainability Challenges

PRODUCER UNIT

STRATEGIC PARTNER

In 2014, BCI’s Implementing Partner worked with 3,600 farmers organised into 3 Producer Units

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

Collection of farmers = Learning Group

This season was the first full year for BCI in Senegal. Capacity to keep and report accurate records of all farm inputs and costs was not sufficiently well developed in the first season to enable confident reporting of a complete data set. We are working

2014 HARVEST REPORT

Collection of Learning Groups = Producer Unit

Social standards pose significant challenges in Senegal. A major challenge is keeping all children in school through high school. As part of the BCI project, farmers were educated on the necessity of compulsory education in Senegal and the benefits to their children in attending school. As a result, this season in some PUs the number of children attending school improved. Although, an improvement of BCI Farmers’ incomes has been perceived, parents continue to find providing for school supplies and school meals a challenge. Moving Forwards The initial results, although incomplete, indicate that BCI is bringing positive change to the Kolda region. For this reason, BCI partners are committed to continuing and expanding the programme and training more farmers in 2015. With the construction of new barns and biodigestors, as well as intensive training programmes on threshold spraying and decent work principles, farmers are starting to see decreasing production costs while increasing their yields, producing better margins and driving social change.

Federation of cotton producers (FNPC)

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

USA

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

USA

1st HARVEST

DEC

JAN

Harvest SEP – NOV

Sowing MAR – JUNE BETTER COTTON PROJECTS

FIRST HARVEST RESULTS

United States

12,000

California

7,400

Arkansas

Texas

In 2014, in response to demand from our brand members, retailers, suppliers and interested farmer groups, we launched a Better Cotton pilot project in the United States. The US is the third-largest cotton producing country in the world, and its cotton quality is highly prized by

2014

New Mexico

1st HARVEST

Over the last year, we have been working closely with the American cotton industry to establish a US Better Cotton supply chain and take Better Cotton a step closer to becoming a mainstream commodity.

the textile industry.

RESULTS 21

Map based on Longitude (generated) and Latitude (generated). The marks are labeled by Province. Details are shown for Country and Province. The data is filtered on Action (Farm Category), which keeps 1 member. The view is filtered on Latitude (generated) and Longitude (generated). The Latitude (generated) filter keeps non-Null values only. The Longitude (generated) filter keeps non-Null values only.

BCI farmers

Area under Better Cotton Cultivation (ha)

Better Cotton Production (MT lint)

“

We see this as a great way to stay ahead of the curve, being responsive to changing market expectations and demonstrating our growers’ commitment to sustainability and continual improvement.

In the first year of the pilot project, 21 growers in four states each completed a self-assessment, hosted an on-farm visit by independent, third-party verifiers to confirm they met BCI’s criteria for environmental stewardship and working conditions, and reported the results to BCI. All farmers who completed the process are now licensed to sell Better Cotton to participating merchants. These farmers produced a total volume of 12,000MT Better Cotton.

In many parts of the US cotton belt, farmers are struggling with weeds that have developed resistance to certain herbicides, making it necessary to use different materials and/or herbicide rotations to minimise resistance. California is in the midst of a multi-year drought, making water for irrigation scarce and costly. In other regions, like West Texas, water tables are falling. These challenges are motivating growers to invest in more efficient irrigation methods. Some BCI Farmers are installing drip irrigation, which can reduce irrigation water needs by up to 50%. One BCI Farmer is also installing a large solar array, which will allow the farm to generate all of its electricity on site. looking ahead The next step for Better Cotton in the US is working to expand supply throughout the country. Drawing on the lessons and feedback from those who participated in 2014, we are adapting our assurance model to the US context and empowering intrested gins, coops and merchants to recruit groups of growers interested in growing Better Cotton.

Sustainability Challenges The US is a key cotton producing country, leading in technological advancements and innovation. However, whilst American cotton farmers are highly advanced in their production methods, they still face sustainability challenges. Because cotton production in the US is spread over such a large area, the sustainability challenges faced here tend to be regional in nature.

”

Todd Straley, Hart Producers Coop, Gin Manager

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

BENCHMARKED STANDARDS

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY ‘BENCHMARKING’? Benchmarking (or ‘recognition agreement’) refers to a process of comparing one organisation’s policies and practices with those of similar organisations in the same field. Within the field of sustainability initiatives, it tends to refer to comparing standards systems with a view to identifying gaps between them. The Better Cotton Standard covers a number of dimensions, both normative (setting and implementing standards) and procedural (how things are done). So for us, the benchmarking process needs to pay careful attention to comparison of standards, but also needs to look further – to the way in which BCI and the entity or initiative in question make decisions, enable improvement of farmer performance, judge compliance, evaluate impact and collect data, finance themselves and track product through the supply chain. This process is undertaken by an independent, competent third party. The benchmarking exercise needs to provide practical recommendations both to us and to the other entity or initiative so that, where necessary, amendments can be agreed that allow us to recognise an existing standard or programme as delivering Better Cotton: so-called ‘one-way recognition’. WHEN IS A BENCHMARKING PROCESS ENTERED? A benchmarking process is considered if a national standard for sustainable cotton production exists and is publicly available in a country. We initiate a benchmarking process only if a credible Stategic Partner is available in the country and the proposal is in line with our expansion strategy. Benchmarking can be an effective way to mainstream sustainability in cotton production, by building on existing knowledge and activities through meaningful partnerships. WHERE DO WE WORK IN A BENCHMARKED CONTEXT? 2014 saw BCI successfully complete the benchmarking of Australia’s nationally-developed cotton standard, myBMP (My Best Management Practice), so that it is now aligned with the Better Cotton Standard. The original BMP programme

2014 HARVEST REPORT

began in 1997 before being reviewed and redeveloped in 2006-07, leading to the launch of a new online myBMP system in 2010.

AUSTRALIA

Recognition of the myBMP programme in Australia follows our achievement in 2013 when BCI finalised a benchmarking exercise with ABRAPA (Associação Brasileiro dos Produtores de Algodão). This alignment of ABRAPA’s own ABR (Algodão Brasileiro Responsável / Responsible Brazilian Cotton) programme with the Better Cotton Standard led to a large increase in the availability of Better Cotton in the market place. Complementing this, it’s now been two years since benchmarking the ‘Cotton made in Africa’ (CmiA) and ‘Subsaharan Cotton Standard’ (SCS) of Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) with the Better Cotton Standard. In this case, we have also seen a notable increase in the volume of CmiA and SCS cotton available for sale as Better Cotton to BCI members. REPORTING ON RESULTS INDICATORS IN A BENCHMARKING CONTEXT Reporting on Results Indicators is fully integrated into the Better Cotton requirements to ensure that sustainability improvements are measured everywhere Better Cotton is produced. We also develop results monitoring and data sharing agreements with the other standards and programmes with which we have benchmarking agreements. We believe it’s important to harmonise our efforts on a set of common indicators so that our measurement of results and impact in the future can be coherent across cotton sustainability initiatives with which we partner, ultimately working towards a more sustainable sector as a whole. With this approach, we engage in joint results monitoring and learning with these standards and programmes while allowing them to publicly communicate their results when and how they choose. This is why we only present our global indicators – BCI Farmers, hectares under Better Cotton cultivation and MT lint of Better Cotton – for benchmarked standards in this report. In this report we share the exciting progress made in our partnerships during the 2014 season.

www.bettercotton.org

AUSTRALIA

AUSTRALIA 1st HARVEST

DEC

JAN

Harvest MAR – MAY

myBMP REGIONS

Sowing SEP – NOV FIRST HARVEST RESULTS

Australia

54,000

2014

27,000

Queensland

BCI farmers

Area under Better Cotton Cultivation (ha)

Better Cotton Production (MT lint)

“

”

2014 HARVEST REPORT

In 2012, Cotton Australia contacted BCI to begin discussions about producing Better Cotton in the country. This led to Cotton Australia joining BCI as a member organisation, and starting the benchmarking process to align myBMP (the Australian cotton industry’s voluntary farm and environmental management system) with the Better Cotton Standard System. We were proud to be able to recognise this through the signing of a formal Strategic Partnership

This partnership means that certified myBMP growers now have the opportunity to increase market awareness of their lint by offering it as Better Cotton.

Results In the first year of our partnership, 22 certified myBMP growers opted-in to the Better Cotton programme, producing 54,000MT of Better Cotton lint that was sold to markets across the world.

Access to future growth markets is of tremendous importance to Australian cotton growers, particularly as they contend with competition from synthetic fibres. Within the global natural fibre market, demand for responsibly grown cotton is growing, and this agreement allows Australian cotton growers to participate more easily in that expanding market. Adam Kay, Cotton Australia CEO

Cotton Australia, the leading body for Australia’s cotton-growing industry, supports over 1,500 cotton farming families in the states of New South Wales and Queensland.

with Cotton Australia in 2014.

New South Wales

1st HARVEST

Sustainability Challenges Due to Australia’s harsh climate, water usage is a major sustainability challenge throughout the country. However, Australia’s cotton industry is considered one of the most water-efficient in the world. Due to a drought, 2014 was a particularly challenging year for Australian cotton growers. The final area planted was only 50% compared to 2013. Through well-developed agronomic practices, however, growers were able to achieve record yields (of up to 2,953 kg [13 bales] / ha) which provided some degree of compensation.

www.bettercotton.org

The Australian cotton industry faces challenges in other areas, including sufficient access to additional pesticides that would improve resistance management options for weeds and insects. Availability is mainly limited due to the relatively small market size and regulatory costs for chemical registration. In 2015, Australia’s first ‘AgVet Chemical Priority List’ was developed and contains 400 cross-industry priorities for key weed, pest and disease challenges that can be addressed through improved access to agricultural (and veterinary) chemicals. The cost of energy and fertiliser is a key concern. Cotton Australia continues to advocate the government regarding electricty pricing whilst the farmers continue to fund research into energy and fertiliser use efficiency. In relation to the safety of workers on cotton farms, Cotton Australia has recently upgraded this section of the myBMP programme. A series of workshops have been delivered to ensure farmers are up to date and that worker safety is the highest priority on every farm. looking ahead Over the coming year, the newly formed BCI-Cotton Australia Partnership is expected to encourage more Australian growers to get on board with the myBMP programme. This will continue to raise awareness of sustainability issues in Australia and it is anticipated that as this momentum grows, many more Australian growers will opt-in to become part of the Better Cotton Initiative.

2014 HARVEST REPORT

Barb Grey and her husband, Ralph, farm 2,170 hectares in South West Queensland, where 17% of the property is a strict farming and grazing exclusion zone to protect native plants and animals.

Australian cotton “producers can be remote

from the end-user, and vice-versa. BCI bridges the gap, bringing both ends of the supply chain closer together.

”

ALGODÃO BRASILEIRO RESPONSÁVEL (ABR), BRAZIL

Barb Grey, BCI Farmer, Australia

In summer 2015, Barb Grey and her husband, Ralph, became BCI Farmers after participating in Australia’s myBMP programme for 25 years. Barb and Ralph began farming in 1979 and as the industry expanded in the 1990’s, they and other Australian farmers realised the need to better manage cotton farming practices. Major changes and steady improvements over time have helped transform the way Barb and Ralph produce cotton. Since 1980, Barb and Ralph have reduced chemical sprays from 11 to just one or two per season. They’ve also improved water use efficiency by 300%. The myBMP programme and participation in BCI have given Barb and Ralph confidence in their farming practices. The comprehensive suite of guidelines covering all aspects of production allow

2014 HARVEST REPORT

Barb and Ralph to meet increasing demands for accountability in the textile supply chain. “It’s clear that brands and retailers now demand accountability and traceability in their cotton products, and part of this is delivered by BCI. These businesses seek to be far more informed around the ‘how’ in the production of Australia’s cotton, and want to be reassured of the care and consideration given to the environment and our community,” said Barb. Barb, Ralph and their farm staff are proud to be producing cotton to myBMP and BCI standards. While conserving resources, caring for worker safety and protecting local flora and fauna, Barb and Ralph feel that BCI helps to connect their responsible farming practices to the global supply chain.

www.bettercotton.org

DEC Sowing OCT – MAR

Harvest APR – SEP GROWTH 2012

2011

2013

39,000

190

130

107

Minas Gerais

27,000

Goiás

188,000

210,000

Bahia Mato Grosso

321,000

558,000

Maranhão

2014

768,000

ABR REGIONS

Sowing OCT – MAR

295,000

JAN

ABR, BRAZIL

4th HARVEST

zil

ABR, BRAZIL

Mato Grosso do Sul

BCI farmers

based on Longitude (generated) and Latitude (generated). The marks are labeled by Province. Details are shown for Country and Province. The data is filtered on n (Farm Category) and Action (PU Code). The Action (Farm Category) filter keeps 1 member. The Action (PU Code) filter keeps 1 member. The view is filtered on ude (generated) and Longitude (generated). The Latitude (generated) filter keeps non-Null values only. The Longitude (generated) filter keeps non-Null values only.

Area under Better Cotton Cultivation (ha)

Better Cotton Production (MT lint)

“

During this fourth year of Better Cotton production in Brazil, BCI’s Implementing Partner, ABRAPA (Associação Brasileiro dos Produtores de Algodão), evolve to become a Strategic Partner, taking the lead for Better Cotton in Brazil. This followed the benchmarking of ABRAPA’s own standard – ABR (Algodao Brasileiro Responsavel) – with the Better Cotton Standard System through a comprehensive exercise. ABRAPA, the Brazilian Cotton Growers’ Association, was established in 1999 and consists of nine state associations: Abapa (Bahia), Acopar (Paraná), Agopa (Goiás), Amapa (Maranhão), Amipa (Minas Gerais), Ampa (Mato Grosso), Ampasul (Mato Grosso do Sul), Apipa (Piauí) and Appa (São Paulo). Today, ABRAPA represents growers that produce about 99% of Brazil’s cotton production mainly on large-scale mechanised farms with the aim of ‘assuring and improving the profitability of the cotton sector, while seeking a strategic level of sustainability’. ABRAPA says this will be achieved by ‘working together with the public and private sectors in order to foster improvements in production while being socially and environmentally responsible’. Results

The ABR certification gives credibility to all we do on the farm. It concerns not only environmental sustainability, but also the social component including security at work. It is an accrediation of all we do for the external market - it’s really positive.

In 2014, 190 cotton farmers were licensed to grow Better Cotton, between them growing 768,000MT of Better Cotton lint. Six states are now part of the programme in Brazil, which has led to a dramatic increase in the number of growers participating and a record crop of Better Cotton.

”

Elaine Lourenco Coordinator of Environmental Managment,

4th HARVEST

Better Cotton currently accounts for more than 45% of the national cotton crop in Brazil, making Brazil the largest source of Better Cotton globally. The

volumes achieved this year provided a major boost to the availability of Better Cotton in the market place and contributed significantly towards exceeding our global production targets. Sustainability challenges

Brazilian cotton is mainly rain-fed, which presented significant challenges for some growers in 2014 due to disruptive weather patterns. In some states, sowing dates had to be shifted significantly, and in many cases the final planted area was considerably reduced, leading to a smaller crop than was anticipated earlier in the season. Such obstacles have been successfully countered by the growers’ high levels of expertise, combined with the adoption of developing technologies such as precision agriculture. This has helped to ensure the efficient utilisation of inputs and resultant yields that contribute towards the ongoing sustainability of cotton production in Brazil. looking ahead As brand awareness and demand for Better Cotton increase, so does interest from growers in being part of the programme. We expect that in 2015 growers from an additional state will be enrolled. This will likely lead to a further increase in the number of growers and the volume of Better Cotton being produced in Brazil.

Grupo Bom Futuro, Brazil

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

COTTON MADE IN AFRICA (CmiA) and SMALLHOLDER COTTON STANDARD (SCS)

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

COTTON MADE IN AFRICA

COTTON MADE IN AFRICA In 2014, CmiA and SCS cotton was produced in:

Burkina Faso Ethiopia Cameroon Ghana Côte d’Ivoire Tanzania Malawi Zimbabwe Mozambique

346,000

155,000

600,000

733,000 440,000

CmiA/SCS farmers

» Making stronger links in the cotton supply chain by improving traceability systems and increasing demand.

As the partnership grows, so does the global reach of our joint effort. We are proud to report that due to our partnership, an increasing number of cotton companies were able to sell their cotton as CmiABC to our respective Members. Uptake of this cotton reached 41,395MT at the end of 2014, a positive trend that we are confident will continue this year as demand for more sustainable cotton grows. See the CmiA section on our website for the updated list of companies offering CmiA-BC.

There are many different sustainability challenges in the African countries in which we jointly operate. Throughout 2014, we worked closely with ABTF to develop common solutions and approaches, such as: » Addressing and ending child labour by sharing training materials. » Strengthening pest management by developing new methodology to measure the toxicity (‘toxic load’) of pesticides. This will be used for results monitoring and most importantly to enable farmers to make better informed decisions on the selection of pesticides as part of integrated pest control methods.

Area under Cotton Produced Cultivation (ha) (MT lint)

2014 HARVEST REPORT

» Aligning the techniques used to measure results and improving a shared understanding of what it means to achieve impact. Ongoing collaboration on technological solutions for data management and shared learning will help us reach this goal.

Sustainability

Zambia

2014 972,000

2013

2014 was the second year of our Strategic Partnership with the Aid by Trade Foundation (ABTF), stewards of the Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) standard. This year, more than 700,000 smallholder farmers produced 346,000 MT of CmiABC licensed cotton in 10 major African cottonproducing countries. Having ‘benchmarked’ against each other, textile companies are now able to buy cotton produced under the CmiA standard and declare it as Better Cotton.

www.bettercotton.org

2014 HARVEST REPORT

www.bettercotton.org

Better Cotton Initiative HEAD OFFICE Rue des Asters 22 1202 Genève Switzerland +41 (0) 22 93 91 250

100% Recycled Paper