To promote the cultivation of organic cotton in the Satpuda-Pench corridor of Central India, adjacent to the ecologically important Pench Tiger Reserve, the C&A Foundation and WWF India launched a partnership recently.

The organisations will combine organic agriculture with environmental conservation to create a win-win situation for both farmers and nature through their unique programme. 6000 farmers will obtain organic certification by the end of 2018 through this multi-year project.

Anita Chester, head of sustainable raw materials for C&A Foundation said that their vision for this collaboration is to maintain the ecology of the Satpuda-Pench corridor while enhancing the livelihoods of cotton farmers, who play a critical role in the apparel industry value chain. She feels that degradation of soil and water quality, which adversely affects wildlife habitats can be minimised by helping farmers and also it would while also reduce costs and increase yields for local cotton farmers.

Farmer training has already started in this season though it is in the prototype phase. In this, farmers will learn how to build the fertility of soil to increase yields, and make natural plant pesticides and compost. Those who complete the programme will obtain organic certification, which would give them better access to international organic cotton markets.

Sejal Worah, Program Director, WWF India said that sustainable agriculture plays an important role in conservation and she believes that when farmers manage their land sustainably, they can help preserve critical habitats by improving soil and water quality, which in turn, enhances their agricultural productivity in the long term.

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