The regenerative cotton standard of the AID by Trade Foundation (ABTF), which was introduced in Tanzania at the end of November 2023 and extended to India in July last year, delivered promising results in the Indian state of Maharashtra after the first harvest: higher crop yields, lower costs and increased awareness of regenerative agriculture were observed.
“The standard with its holistic approach and the focus on the experiences of the farmers: inside proves to be a profit for everyone involved. The pilot project in India has impressively demonstrated that it has the potential to be a real help for the farmers: to regenerate their drained soils, increase their income and to see a perspective in cotton cultivation that is increasingly threatened by climate change, ”comments Abtf Managing Director Tina Stridde in a press.
Participation of 5,000 farmers: inside in over 70 villages
Around 5,000 farmers: In the inside in over 70 villages in Maharashtra, cotton built cotton last season according to the regenerative Cotton Standard (RCS). A total of approximately 4,400 tons of decorated RCS cotton were picked. The farmers: Interior reported 2 percent of an increase in yield compared to the past harvest with a simultaneous cost reduction of 7 percent, which led to higher net income for them.
With the help of biochar (“BioChar”), exhausted soils were also regenerated. “Demonstration areas on which Biochar was tested even resulted in a 15 percent higher yield compared to conventional management. In addition, 90 percent of those involved rate the new training methodology as effective. The positive feedback from the farmer: inside to the training methods and the innovative approaches underpinned the success of the RCS in India after the first harvest, ”summarizes Abtf.
Extensive measures
In order to successfully implement the project, the local population was directly involved in the process. For example, through the integration of local leaders, the close cooperation with “Lead Farmers: Inside” and the structure of farmers: interior groups to ensure direct exchange with the rural communities.
Through a targeted promotion of women, the system of demonstration areas, workshops and training materials for the introduction of rainy cultivation methods managed to win the cotton farmers: inside for the standard and its production methods such as deck fruit growing, crop rotation, methods for keeping soil and organic nutrient management.
As the organization reports, numerous farmers visited: the training on the inside and convinced themselves on “Farmer Field Days” of the efficiency of the regenerative cotton standards and its measures. Cotton supplier Vijay Cotton & Fibre tested the practical and efficiency of the RCS together with the ABTF as a partner and provided over 40 agricultural consultants: inside.
Advantages for customers: inside
The buyer is also offered: there are advantages inside of RCS cotton, such as the transparent integration of the RCS-verified cotton into the textile chain using the ABTF tracking system. In this way, social and political demands on the traceability of textiles from the field to the finished product can be met.
The pilot project launched in India in July 2024 will continue; In Tanzania, the first cotton cycle according to RCS standard was successfully run through and is now going into the second season.