Background

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Agrocel Pure & Fair Cotton Growers’ Association is a group of cotton farmers from the arid Rapar area of Kutch who are participating in an organic conversion project established by Agrocel Industries Ltd. Until recently, they were an unorganised group of farmers who met informally a few times a year to discuss organic farming issues. With guidance from Agrocel Industries, this loose association was formalised in 2005 into a legal entity with a democratic structure. This enabled it to achieve Fairtrade certification and to supply the seed cotton for the UK launch in November 2005 of products made from Fairtrade certified cotton.

Agrocel Industries markets agricultural products including cotton, rice and wheat and promotes sustainable production, organic farming and fair trade practices with 20,000 farmers across six states in India. It pays a sustainable price with premiums for organic and fair trade cotton. It also provides agricultural inputs at cost price, interest-free pre-finance, and agricultural advice and support from Field Service Officers.

Tough times for cotton growers

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Small-scale cotton growers around the world are facing difficult challenges. Cotton prices are unstable and in decline thanks to the US and EU dumping cheap, subsidised cotton on world markets. The industry’s high use of chemical pesticides is harming agricultural communities and the environment. And traditional flood irrigation is depleting rivers, lakes and water tables, making water a scarce commodity for many cotton growing communities.

How can Fairtrade help?

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The Agrocel farmers are taking a positive approach to tackling the challenges they face as cotton growers. Their partnership with Agrocel Industries is helping them to convert to organic production, protect their environment and access markets such as Fairtrade and organic with higher prices.

• The Fairtrade guaranteed minimum price covers the costs of production and provides a sustainable livelihood for the producers
• The Fairtrade premium enables co-operatives to fund projects that benefit the organisation and wider community: business and agricultural training; drilling bore holes for clean water; building schools and clinics
• Fairtrade producers benefit from advance payment and long-term relationships with buyers
• Fairtrade producer groups are democratically run and respect the rights of farmers and farm workers
• Fairtrade production standards encourage sustainable agriculture and protection of the environment.

Fairtrade guarantees farmers a fair and stable price which allows them to plan for their future. The increased income from Fairtrade sales will help the Agrocel farmers to develop organic programmes, install environmentally friendly drip irrigation and improve social provision such as healthcare and education.