The major organic cotton producing nations include india, syria, turkey, china, tanzania, united states of america, uganda, peru, egypt, burkina faso, west africa and kyrgyzstan. Organic production has proven benefits for the environment soil vitality, clean water, biodiversity, combating climate change, etc and for improving socioeconomic opportunities for poor rural communities. Organic cotton farming as an approach to reduce poverty is a relatively new concept. Organic cotton still only occupies a tiny niche of far less than 1% of global cotton production. Nearly 7 million pounds of chemicals are applied annually to this acreage. This compares to 155 to 225 dollars per ton for conventional cotton. The biggest producers are india, china and the usa, followed by pakistan, brazil and uzbekistan. Production of organic cotton has grown from 209,950 metric tonnes mt in 20082009 to 241,276 mt, which is just over 1. Global organic cotton production increased 15% in 2010. As given therein, indian certified organic cotton production is 15% of the total world production of this type of lint and it. Its growing season of approximately 150 to 180 days is the longest of any annually planted crop in. Sustainability in cotton farming systems food and agriculture. Unesco eolss sample chapters soils, plant growth and crop production vol. Wwfs overall strategy for cotton is to move the mainstream.
Organic cotton was grown in 20 countries worldwide in. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Conclusion the water use of organic cotton compared to conventional cotton is indeed a slightly higher 0. Cotton production in the united states fluctuates significantly from year to year. Another plus is that organic cotton farms keep lots of people employed fairly. Organic cultivation methods are based more on knowledge of agronomic processes than inputbased conventional production is. Most production is taking place in india, syria, china, turkey, texas usa, tanzania and uganda. Organic cotton cultivation guide organic cotton farming. The production principles describe the broad areas under the control of the farmer that need. Life cycle assessment of organic, bci and conventional.
Cotton fiber that is grown, processed, and certified, according to organic standards. Pesticide free organic cotton is safer than conventional cotton because it is grown without the use of pesticides. The global production of organic cotton has been declining according to sector reports for the past two years, but despite this market growth continues to be reported. In 2009, overall world production of cotton amounts to some 100 million bales 1 bale 500 lbs or 226.
Organic farming creates healthy soils, which act like a sponge, soaking up water during floods and holding it for longer in times of drought. However, an average organic cotton farmer has only 4. This stems, for the most part, from china, fuelled by growing demand both from the organic dairy industry and the domestic textile sector. Then it was observed that these methods of cotton production are usually more profitable for farmers growing rainfed cotton with seed cotton yields up to about 1. Production increased by 2,587 bales from the previous year. Other countries that contributed significantly to the growth include tanzania, uganda, benin, turkey. Organic cotton is better for water than conventionally produced cotton. Studies show that organic cotton fields in california yield 40% less fiber than conventional, and lacking a secure market farmers are unwilling to risk the lower yields and corresponding decrease in financial.
These include widespread cultivation of bt cotton, development of resistance in cotton pest population, consumer preference for ecofriendly cotton, quality conscious buyers and call for sustainable agriculture. Growth and production of cotton encyclopedia of life. Some was saved for replanting and organic fertilizer. Soil fertility practices that meet organic certification standards typically include crop rotation, cover cropping, animal manure additions, and use of naturally occurring rock powders. Our newly released quick guide to organic cotton is an overview of the positive impacts of organic cotton, including frequently asked questions and supporting facts that indicate organic cotton is the preferred fiber choice compared to its. Perhaps, india is the only country in the world where all the four cultivated species are grown on commercial scale. Production the 2018 organic upland and american pima cotton production in the us totaled 23,483 bales according to information collected from organic producers, marketing associations, and gins that process organic cotton. Fao and etc implemented ipm, non pesticidal management npm and organic cotton programmes from 1997 onwards. Cotton field mali the systemic approach aims to establish a diverse and balanced farming ecosystem which ideally includes all. Incubating new ways of working, driving best practice, and ensuring product integrity is integral to improved business models and the resilience of the sector. Organic cotton production contributes to the united nations sustainable. Success for organic cotton depends upon reimagining and reengineering supply chains to improve business security for growers and for organic to scale up.
Cotton sold as organic must be grown according to the federal guidelines for organic crop production. An additional 329 transitional bales were reported. Organic cotton is pesticide free, pigment free, bleach. Organic cotton market report 2019 textile exchange. Cotton is grown in 17 states and is a major crop in 14.
Crop rotation is also an effective measure to break many insect pests and plant disease cycles. Case study on organic versus conventional cotton in. The viability of cottonbased organic farming systems in india article pdf available in international journal of agricultural sustainability 51 january 2007 with 1,221 reads. Experiences from organic cotton projects have shown that conversion to organic farming in the long run can help farmers to get better and more stable incomes while maintaining or improving their production base and using natural resources more efficiently. A fact sheet on organic cotton lower impacts for agriculture and apparel industries. World production of organic cotton amounts to 6,000 tons of fiber annually, or about 0. Major constraints in cotton production nearly 65 percent cotton area is rainfed, mainly in the central and southern states cotton crop is highly prone to pests and diseases. There is a major industry effort, led by key international brands and retailers, to raise the standard of cotton production and its environmental impact, by promoting better produced cotton into mainstream products.
Environmental efficiency of organic and conventional cotton in benin. Matratec, other all fruit, nut and vegetable crops. Organic cotton training manual final organic eprints. Production grew an impressive 20 percent over 200708 to 175,1 metric tons 802,599 bales grown on.
When compared with the conventional cotton system, the organic and bci cotton show considerable advantage for several impacts categories. Pdf the viability of cottonbased organic farming systems in india. They are harmful to the environment as they kill beneficial insects and pollute soil and water. Organic cotton farming means rethinking the entire farming system. Organic cotton is a member of textile fiber product tree, where natural and manmade fiber. Cottonseed yields ranged from 500 to 800 pounds of seed per bale of ginned lint. Crop production figures for els cotton for each of the main producer areas show the extent of the decline the estimates for 199394 production indicate falls compared to. Cost and return estimates are reported for the united states and major production regions for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, grain sorghum, rice, peanuts, oats, barley, sugar beets, milk, hogs, and cowcalf. India represents a slimmer majority than ever before a decline in global share from 67% to 56%. However, respondents5 to our survey suggested that questions remain over whether market demand for organic cotton is actually increasing. From 2008 to 2012, production of standardcompliant cotton grew from 0.
Africa organic cotton farm hub the farm hub textile. Unit processes for the production of cotton begin with the seed at field, cultivation, and ginning. Texas produced the most organic cottons8,338 acresswith arizona and california being the next two highest producing states. Most of the cottonseed was sold to organic dairies. Several changes in cotton production have taken place in the world.
The following factors favour promotion of organic cotton farming. Benin, burkina faso, mali, senegal, tanzania, uganda general staple lengths. See what is a pesticide for a better understanding of why pesticides are dangerous and how going organic can be beneficial for you and your family hypoallergenic. Cotton, organic cotton and better cotton ethically sustained. Get organic cotton at best price with product specifications. Cotton is the most often used natural fiber worldwide, and thus an important component of the textile industry. The following diagram shows how an organic farming system might look on a small scale farm in india. By procuring organic cotton, a buyer is investing in the futures of the producers and our shared planet.
Demand for organic cotton is highest in europe about 3,500 tons or 58% of the total and the u. Stewart encyclopedia of life support systems eolss identified. The estimated certified organic cotton fibre production for 1997 in india as well as that of other nations of the world is given in table 1. Many weeds, nonselective herbicide herbicide for organic production that provides nonselective postemergence contact desiccation of several broadleaf and grass weeds. The first organic cotton project started 1990 in egypt. Crop production the cotton belt spans the southern half of the unites states, from virginia to california. This situation makes cotton an ideal candidate for organic cultivation. What is organic cotton farming system and how does it work. Cotton needs on an average a minimum temperature of 60 degrees fahrenheit for germination, 7080 degrees fahrenheit for vegetative growth, 8090 degrees fahrenheit with cool nights during fruiting period. This paper presents a study to identify and assess the challenges of cotton production in the tolon district of the northern region. Sullivan, 2003, and consistently leads organic cotton production ota. This is an applied research study of a descriptivesurveying kind. Identify and assess the challenges of cotton production in. Used for cotton sateen, it is produced with fewer yarn interlacings and with either the warp or filling yarns dominating the face of the cloth.
Global organic cotton production 182,876 organic farmers 356,1 organic certified land ha 180,871 organic cotton fiber mt 56% fiber growth mt over 201617 44,394 organic intransition land ha 0. Organic cottonseed prices ranged from 400 to 525 dollars per ton. Global organic cotton production grows 20% in 2009, new. The farmer must comply with the principles and standards for organic farming, and the applicable standards and not. Cotton, such as retailers, ginners, spinners, traders, ngos, trade unions, producer organisations and large independent cotton farmers, to better understand the better cotton production principles and criteria. There was a total of 262,975 ha of organic inconversion the vast majority 249,816 ha in india. Choose it for hoodies, sweats, dresses, childrens rompers, baby blankets.
Lubbock, tx vocus february 16, 2010 organic cotton weathered the global economic storm during the 200809 farming season, albeit with challenges, according to a new report by organic exchange oe documenting growth and challenges in the global organic fiber sector. Among others, the specialty of indian organic cotton is that all the cotton is handpicked. This book provides the first overview of organic cotton production, processing and consumption for everyone involved with cotton. The organic cotton farming system can be applied at different scales. Basic cotton manual 4 sustainable cotton project overview cotton is an important fiber crop in california, grown on roughly 1,400 farms almost 700,000 acres in 2003, according to the california agricultural statistics service. Due to 1020% lower total production costs and a 20% organic price premium, average gross margins from organic cotton fields were 3040% higher than in the. In some plants, optical scanners continuously monitor fabric production looking for flaws as the cloth emerges from the weave machine. Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Crop guide, a manual for practitioners in the tropics. The native distribution of all five tetraploid cottons 24 52nx, ad is restricted to the new world, although its emergence involves a combination of. Pdf an evaluation of the organic cotton marketing opportunity. Organic cotton emits up to 46% less greenhouse gas than nonorganic. Total production for the 18 countries growing organic cotton in 201516 was 107,980 mt 4% decrease on last year.
Organic cotton training manual 6 why organic cotton. Intensive cotton production areas have in recent years encountered severe adverse environmental impactsreduced soil fertility, loss of biodiversity, high insecticide resistance, pesticide persistence etc. Organic cotton is cotton that, among other things, is grown without chemical pesticides or fertilisers. Organic cultivation also reduces the potential negative impact of cotton production on local water quality and biodiversity. Improvement and maintenance of organic matter of the soil are very important in organic cotton production. In 201617, global organic cotton production reached 117,525 mt fiber, representing a ten percent growth.
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