WCS and the Conservation Cotton Initiative

©WCS/J.Maher

CCI will promotes the farming of organic, conservation-friendly cotton around high biodiversity areas in Uganda, Zambia, and Madagascar. The “conservation cotton” produced by CCI farmers will directly benefit the conservation of wildlife and lands in areas of high biodiversity in Africa. Not only will the farmers enjoy health and economic benefits that come from eliminating the use of inorganic pesticides and fertilizer, they will also earn premium prices from high market demand for organic cotton and supporting, rotational crops and products.

Conservation Concerns

The main conservation threats facing many countries where WCS operates arise from unsustainable agricultural practices. As farmers extend their lands to meet basic needs and feed their families, they turn to cash crops like cotton, for which there is international demand. Conventional cotton production, however, is environmentally unsustainable. With its heavy reliance on chemicals, fertilizers, and water, its production has many adverse affects on human health and livelihoods. Impacts include a decline in soil fertility and the pollution of land and water, as well as increased production costs. By relying on middlemen to sell the inputs and purchase the cotton, the rural farmers who produce conventional cotton turn a much smaller profit.

The Sustainable Solution

The farming of conventional cotton can lead to low incomes and limited market opportunities for rural farmers, increased land degradation and pressure on natural resources, and damage to human health. The introduction of “conservation cotton” provides an alternative that is at once healthier and more profitable. The approach helps farmers take advantage of international market demand in a way that reduces ecological threats while enhancing multiple benefits.

Organic production offers several advantages to the farmer:

• There is a price premium of 25-50% for organic cotton, a robust and growing market.
• Organic farms require no chemical inputs, which saves farmers money and eliminates the health threats associated with heavy pesticide use.
• Production requires complementary plantings (such as sunflowers, which attract pests) and activities (such as beekeeping—also practiced for pest control). As opposed to a large mono-cropping enterprise, organic farming therefore creates opportunities for farmers to diversify both their sources of income and food security, as through honey and sunflower oil production.

Protecting Wildlife

Central to the Conservation Cotton Initiative model is farmers’ participation in and agreement to practice conservation agriculture. This requires that they commit to measures designed to control deforestation and protect wildlife. Making these incentives work is a key component of CCI, and the initiative’s success lies in linking market access for farmers to green practices.

Goals

As it moves forward, CCI seeks to:

• Build a successful farmer-based enterprise incorporating organic production.
• Ensure that local farmers get the maximum benefits from organic farming through direct purchase and the offer of a higher premium price for organic cotton.
• Promote a grow-to-sew production in African countries, whereby not only raw materials but end products, too, are produced in Africa.
• Integrate resource conservation and sustainable practices into the production process.

Support Conservation Cotton

By supporting CCI, you’ll help the Wildlife Conservation Society in our mission to save wildlife and wild places, while improving life for rural farmers in Africa. To make a contribution visit our donation page and type in “Conservation Cotton  Initiative” in the “Other” field at the top of the page.



Read WCS article Clothing with a Conscience to learn more about the WCS and Edun collaboration with Hard Rock Signature Series 25 to support the Conservation Cotton Initiative.

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