IKEA and WWF in India
The India Sustainable Cotton Initiative
In India, the cotton crop occupies more than 9.2 million hectares of land, which makes it number one internationally in terms of area under cotton. Sixty million people are supported directly or indirectly through cotton production, processing, marketing and trade. Cotton and textiles account for 30% of India’s total export volume with a world market share of 15%, and the two account for 45% of all exports from India to the EU.
The state of Andhra Pradesh is the highest consumer of pesticides in the country. About 50% of the pesticides used in agriculture is consumed in cotton cultivation. There has been a significant growth in cotton production in this state also.WWF and IKEA are collaborating in a project to actively promote and implement better management practices (BMPs) for cotton at a district level in Andhra Pradesh, and to spread the ‘good example’ as far as possible throughout the state and the country.
The project's overall objective is to promote the sustainable use of resources by cotton farmers in Andhra Pradesh, thereby sustaining the ecosystem, health and livelihoods for the community
Specific objectives of the project are:
- Use of Better Management Practices (BMPs) by 500 farmers by 2008
- Raise awareness of BMPs amongst 5000 farmers in Warangal district
- Gain support of several companies to promote, source and use "BMP" cotton in Andhra Pradesh
Achievements
The Farmer Field Schools (FFS) are critical to reaching out to farmers directly, and in demonstrating and encouraging farmers to implement better management practices. In 2007 - the project's second season - 308 farmers registered for the Farmer Field Schools. In the first season, only 61 farmers signed up. Trainers have been trained – some trainers are trained to demonstrate BMP techniques, and others to organize and run the FFSs.Many of the BMPs (over 13) have been identified and demonstrated, and proven to be successful and are even being adopted by farmers not involved directly in the project. Spot application of cow dung slurry was of particular interest to BMP and control farmers.
In May 2007, silt application for cotton was performed by farmers (with huge interest and response), and supported by the local administration and the media. Silt application is one BMP which increases soil fertility, acting as manure. The silt is taken from the build-up in water tanks. These water tanks are used for water harvesting and so removing the silt and using it in this way has a number of benefits.
Chemical fertiliser and pesticide use has reduced dramatically. The non-pesticide management approach uses botanical pesticides. More than 90% of the BMP farmers didn’t apply any chemical for pest control. After seeing the success of the BMPs in the field, many non-BMP farmers also started using them. About 64-82% of non-BMP farmers applied neem seed kernel, whilst 55% of non-BMP farmers applied vitex solution and 10% of non-BMP farmers applied chilly garlic extract.
