Cotton provides about half of all global fibre requirements. The six big producers are USA, China, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, but cotton is produced in over 60 countries. It is an important source of income for millions of small farmers and contributes significantly to the national economy of many developing countries.
Occupying only 2.5 per cent of agricultural land, cotton uses almost 25 per cent of the world’s insecticides. The conventional cultivation of cotton leads to massive environmental and health problems.
Three million suffering from long term acute poisoning,( World Health Organisation) 200,000 suicides due to debt, (Pesticide Action Network (PAN)), long-term contamination of water supplies, and an enormous amount of greenhouse gas emission from chemical fertilisers used.
Around the world, more toxic insecticides are used on cotton than on any other crop. A sustainable alternative is certified organic cultivation .
The farmers have only a chance to convert their production into a controlled organic cultivation of cotton if there is sufficient demand for organic cotton.
So serious are the negative impacts of chemical-intensive agricultural production, that momentum for change amongst farmers, companies and consumers calling for greater social and environmental accountability has grown considerably in recent years.
Organic cotton is produced in organic agricultural systems that produce food and fibre according to clearly established standards. Organic agriculture prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemical pesticides and fertilizers, as well as genetically modified organisms. It seeks to build biologically diverse agricultural systems, replenish and maintain soil fertility, and promote a healthy environment.
Certified organic cotton
“Certification of organic cotton production adds credibility to the final product, assures the buyer of the organic status of the product and encourages payment of premium prices to farmers who engage in organic practices. Certification is a system which sets standards, ensures that organic standards are met and communicates compliance to consumers through appropriate labelling. When a grower or processor is "certified organic," an independent organisation has verified that the company meets or exceeds defined organic standards. Certified organic farms are inspected regularly and must maintain comprehensive records of their production methods.” (PAN)
The future of organic cotton
Organic cotton is now grown in 18 countries but still represents only a tiny fraction of the total global cotton production - less than 0.1%. The biggest producers in 2001 were Turkey, the United States, India and Peru. Smaller experimental projects are also expanding in size and numbers.
There are also signs that organic cotton is moving out of its niche market into the mainstream with increased interest on the part of supermarkets and large companies. Some clothing and textile companies are becoming interested in blending small quantities of organic cotton with conventional cotton. Purchase of organic cotton for such programs expands organic agricultural production. (PAN)
