a closer look at crop diversification in organic cotton...

A Snapshot of Crop Diversification

in Organic Cotton Farms

This discussion paper looks at the benefits of crop diversification using case studies to illustrate emerging practice. A closer look at Africa, India and Latin America is carried out to explore some of the themes, issues and opportunities for organic cotton farmers.

By Liesl Truscott, Doraliz Aranda, Prabha Nagarajan, Silvère Tovignan and Alfonso Lizarraga Travaglini

2009-10

P a g e | 2 A Snapshot of Crop Diversification in Organic Cotton Farms 2009

Table of Contents

What this report is about ............................................................................................................... 3

Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 4

Part A: The big picture – What is an organic farm system? ............................................................ 5

Benefits of crop diversification ................................................................................................... 8

Environmental and Agronomic Benefit .................................................................................. 8

Social Benefit .......................................................................................................................... 9

Economic Benefit.................................................................................................................. 10

The dinner table... .................................................................................................................... 11

To market... .............................................................................................................................. 11

Adding extra value... ................................................................................................................. 15

Part B: Stories from the Regions................................................................................................... 17

Part C: A snapshot of crop diversification in Africa, Latin America and India ............................... 23

Observations from Africa ......................................................................................................... 27

Observations from India ........................................................................................................... 28

Observations from Latin America ............................................................................................. 29

About crops .......................................................................................................................... 31

About harvest ....................................................................................................................... 37

About product and sales ....................................................................................................... 41

About opportunities ............................................................................................................. 46

Parting thoughts... ........................................................................................................................ 50

„Cotton farm, Crop rotation & Intercropping‟

(By Yuri Fiuralifa Zeña Coronado, age12 – son of organic

cotton farmer in APAEM, Peru)

„Cotton farm, Bio Application, Yellow pest trap‟

(By Jordán Eliberto Ballena Trujillo, age 11 -

son of organic cotton farmer in APAEM, Peru)


What this report is about

Income from the sale of certified organic cotton is obviously fundamental to

small scale organic cotton farmers and their family’s quality of life. However,

other ways to generate income and improve livelihoods comes from the

‘required’ organic farm system. Organic farm systems require the use of

other crops (such as legumes, cereals, and sunflowers) to maintain the

organic system (e.g. to improve soil fertility, control pests and so on). Just as

important are the varieties of food these crops bring to the farmer’s dinner

table.

This discussion paper provides a closer look at crop diversification and the

benefits diversification gives the organic cotton farmer; environmentally,

socially and economically. It gives the reader some insight into the role these

crops play and the uses they have in terms of soil fertility, pest management,

food security, and local, regional and global markets. A look at future and

emerging market opportunities is also here for consideration.

The aim of this discussion paper is to raise awareness of:

The role specific crops play within the organic cotton farm system.

The importance of these crops to the small scale farmer’s family

food and nutritional security.

The opportunity crop diversification provides to improve income and

reduce financial risk.

Livelihoods for organic cotton farmers can be defined and improved in a

number of ways:

• There is enough food available for the family table including a

variety of food required to meet the family’s nutritional needs.

• There is a good supply of high quality ‘safe’ food (staples and

fresh produce) to local markets, i.e. the contribution the organic

cotton farmer makes to their community’s food and nutritional

needs (and the income it generates).

• Emerging regional organic markets are utilized. Regional markets

can provide higher prices for some crops, if there is a demand

for organic. Big cities and supermarket chains are growing

centres of organic. These markets may also provide

opportunities for growers to invest in further processing such as

pressing, juicing, pulping or drying (of relevant crops) either on

the farm or through local business partnerships. This value

adding, without quite the same pressure on quality and form-

filling that export markets demand, gives farm groups, local

entrepreneurs and local industry a boost.

• Tapping into additional export markets may be beneficial and

prices can even prove to be competitive with organic cotton.

Investing in growing and certifying organic farm system crops

such as sesame may strengthen income security and reduce the

risk associated with fluctuating prices, poor seasons and so on.


Introduction

For the past 2 years Organic Exchange has been working with organic cotton

producer groups to gain a better understanding of the organic cotton farm

system in its entirety, i.e. what happens on the farm besides the production

of organic cotton.

It is well known that to grow cotton organically a holistic approach to

managing the production within a ‘farm system’ is required1. First, to grow

good quality, high-yielding organic cotton without the use of artificial

pesticides and fertilisers or GMO, the farmer must look for other ways to

manage soil fertility and pest (weed and insect) outbreaks. To a large extent

soil fertility and pest control is achieved through the growing of rotation and

associated crops.

In addition, besides supporting the production of the primary crop (cotton),

the farm system plays a valuable role in meeting nutritional and social needs

such as household food security, health, safety, and can make a contribution

to local and traditional diets for the surrounding neighbourhood. These

advantages are fundamental to the small scale farmer and his or her

community. There is also evidence that organic farm systems have a role to

play in improving gender equality and food sovereignty.

It is now becoming increasingly clear that there are significant financial

advantages to the growing of a range of crops (a diverse farm system). The

plummet in the organic cotton market experienced in 20092 certainly points

to the advantages of ‘spreading risk’ by investing in a diverse range of crops

and markets. Unpredictable weather and climatic – as well as financial –

1 See Van Elzakker’s description of a farm system - over page.

2 OE Farm and Fibre Report, 2010

conditions are another reason to diversify income and have other market

options in hand.

This discussion paper is in three parts: Part A provides an overview of the role

and benefits of crop diversification, challenges and opportunities for the

organic cotton grower, a look at further processing and value-adding, market

scenarios and a closer look at some of the popular farm system crops.

Part B: Is a short collection of stories highlighting some of the successful crop

diversification projects in Africa, organic market scenarios in Latin America,

and business development in India.

Part C: Provides a follow up to the OE Farm Systems Crop Baseline Report

published in 2009. Drawing on the results of a further survey, Part B of this

paper provides a closer look at the farm systems of organic cotton farmers in

Africa, Latin America and India; crop diversification, issues, challenges and

views of market risks and opportunities.

Organic cotton farm with King Grass barrier

in Oro Blanco, Peru

(Photo: Alfonso Lizarraga)

Sunflower barrier in organic cotton farm,

Campinas Brazil

(Photo: Alfonso Lizarraga)


Part A: The big picture – What is an organic farm system?

Organic cotton cannot be grown on its own (as a monoculture). It requires a

variety of crops performing special roles to support the organic nature of the

farm system. This means each crop grown on the farm has a role to play in

supporting the viability of the organic farm system to produce cotton – and

thus the livelihood of the small scale farmer.

The role each crop plays will vary – for example it might contribute to soil

fertility (rotation crop), help control pests (trap crop), keep the family food

secure or be a valuable cash crop. Food for the family, and further income

from local, regional or export market contributes to the socio-economic

viability of the farm system.

Van Elzakker3 says that cotton must be grown in a farm system. In organic

cotton, this is an essential basis for successful, productive organic cotton

growing – other crops provide green manure, tools for pest management (by

creating traps, providing ingredients, etc.). The farm system includes crops

grown in rotation, livestock, and other products both farmed and wild. It is a

systems approach that does not lend itself well to a monoculture.

Van Elzakker suggests the following quick formula for the organic farming

system: 'The use of locally adapted varieties + the reduction of nutrient losses

+ the use of locally available organic material and green manuring + a wide

rotation + fostering natural balances + mechanical and manual weed control

= no need for synthetic inputs'.

3 Van Elzakker, B (2009) Agro Eco, Louis Bolk Institute, The Netherlands

Figure 1: The organic cotton farm system (Ferrigno, S., 2009)

Beneficial & Harmful Organisms(fungus, mites, insects, birds, mammals & others)

Soil(fungus, lichens, mites, insects & others)

Periphery

Food- Cassava

Cash- Coffee- Banana- Mango

Border(useful plants)

- Carob- Sunflower

AssociationFood- Beans- Maize

Cash- Sesame

Animals

- Bees & honey- Cows & goats

Crop RotationFood-Maize- Beans- Lentil- Vegetables

Cash- Sesame-Groundnut-Soya-Sweet Potato

COTTON

Crop rotation schedule, BioRe, Tanzania

(Courtesy: Saro Ratter)


Role of crops in the cotton system

Organic cotton farms produce a wide range of other crops as part of the farm system. These crops have a role to play in maintaining agronomic, human and

animal health. System crops are grown in rotation with cotton, intercropped, on field boundaries, or are growing wild. The following list provides an overview of

these roles and examples of the types of crops fulfilling them.

Crop role Overview of crop role Examples of crops Crop Rotation Crops grown in the same area in succession to avoid the build-up of pests

that can occur when one species is continuously cropped. It balances fertility demands of various crops to avoid depletion of nutrients. Replenishment of nitrogen is achieved through the use of green manure in sequence with cereals and other crops, improving soil structure by alternating deep and shallow-rooted plants.

Intercropping T he agricultural practice of cultivating two or more crops in the same space at the same time (Andrews & Kassam 1976). Intercropping may benefit crop yield or control of some kind of pest, or may have other agronomic benefits.

Trap crop A trap crop is a plant that attracts parasitic insects away from attacking nearby crops. Trap crops can be planted around the circumference of the field (border crops) to be protected, or interspersed among them, for example being planted every ninth row.

Border crops These are crops planted around the circumference of the field to be protected and often used as trap crops to attract pests from the cultivated crop.

Periphery and plantation

Crops that may or may not have a direct benefit to the production of cotton. They can serve a purpose such as provide shade and cover to the soil, or keep the microbial activity in the soil constant or simply be crops grown on the farm for other reasons.


Below are examples of five different crop rotation sequences for organic cotton farm systems (Eyhorn, F. Organic Cotton Crop Guide). As is evident in the diagram

there is a wide range of choices. Farmers tend to select crops that work well for their ecological conditions and are most likely to contribute to the local diet.

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3

Pulses & Cereals

Vegetable

Sugar Cane

Diverse Rotation (from Tanzania)

Rotation with herbal plants (from Egypt)

or

Win

ter

Cro

ps

or

Win

ter

Cro

ps

or

Win

ter

Cro

ps

or

Win

ter

Cro

ps

or

Win

ter

Cro

ps


Benefits of crop diversification

Organic farm systems that involve good crop diversification deliver a number of environmental, agronomic, social and economic benefits.

Environmental and Agronomic Benefit

Crop diversification is the key to good organic farming; it is a major substitute – and clearly more environmentally sound option - for the use of chemicals to maintain soil fertility and control pests. Other environmental benefits include a contribution to local biodiversity (especially where wild and indigenous plants are encouraged to grow). There is some opinion that crop diversity has a positive impact on climate change through the ability of local flora (as opposed to monocultures) to hold carbon thus generating less CO2.

Soil fertility is the foundation of sustainable and productive organic farming. When soil is well managed, pest pressure is reduced, water use is optimised and yields will improve for all crops grown in the rotation. To be sustainable and to enable organic cotton production to grow to meet demand, soil fertility has to be a priority for farmers and farming projects. Soil fertility and its management require specific approaches in organic production, including:

using natural fertilisation methods

practices such as crop rotation and association

elimination of chemical fertilisers

Organic soil fertility management thus emphasises the use of practices that systematically introduce nutrients into the system in natural ways4.

4 Monday, P. and Lizarraga, A., Soil Fertility Management in Organic Cotton: an

overview, Forthcoming, Organic Exchange: O'Donnell 2008

“Organic farming... Improves health & minimizes air, water & soil pollution. 20% water can be saved. 0.25% Organic Carbon can be increased with help of Organic farming. It helps to create a good ecology” Patel. H, Agrocel, Interlaken 2009

Organic compost prepared in village

centre, Mali

(Courtesy: Helvetas)

Natural fertilisation, Parsapada, India

(Photo: Genus a.b)

Cotton & Maize in organic cotton

farm, Northeast Brazil

(Photo: Alfonso Lizarraga )

Organic farming is about creating an

agro-ecosystem that stabilizes itself

(Photo: Helvetas)


Social Benefit

Organic farming generally and crop diversity specifically

are important factors in improving livelihoods. Food

security can be improved by the production of food crops

as part of the farm system or where food crops (fruit and

vegetables) are grown within the cash crops specifically

for household use.

Besides a more reliable supply of food, other social

benefits can be found. Crop diversity allows for a more

varied approach to farming generally – household

vegetable patches are more likely to be planted and

maintained by women. In fact, organic farming often

appeals to women – the range of crops and the different

styles of harvest means that some crops are more

appropriate (than others) for women to be involved or

are considered ‘women’s crops’ such as shea.

Cutting out dangerous chemicals from the farm system

also contributes to increased participation by women.

Pesticide application is heavy and hazardous work. Crop

choices, issues of food sovereignty and income sharing

are potentially better handled. Income directly reaching

women tends to go towards meeting family needs such as

schooling.

These benefits are reported by organic cotton farmers

however there is no guarantee that organic farming

families are always experiencing social benefits or are

food secure, all of the time.

(See article by Dr M. Anderson ‘Women, hunger, and food

sovereignty’ at http://www.foodsystems-

integrity.com/about_us)

Organic and Fairtrade help build small

school, Mali


Organic cotton harvesting,

Adec/Esplar, Brazil

(Photo: Pedro Jorge Lima)

Part of a classroom built with Organic and

Fairtrade premium, in Yobodoho, Aklampa, Benin

(Photo: Silvere Tovignan)

Organic and Fairtrade premium help

build store house for organic

fertilisers




Economic Benefit

Most of the farms producing cotton for export are built around the production of this

cotton, i.e. cotton is their primary crop. However, cotton is not the only crop on the

farm with financial benefits. The crops grown in rotation or associated with the cotton

growing can also be significant income earners – especially if they are sold with an

organic premium.

If the farmer can sell several crops, the overhead cost share (for extension5,

certification, management etc.) for each crop is reduced, making the products more

competitive in the market. The same extension system that was primarily built to

support farmers in growing their organic cotton in a good way can also cover the

production of maize, cassava or chillies. Crop diversity also helps the farmer reduce

risk - if one crop fails or market prices drop, other crops can compensate for the loss6.

One way of maximising economic benefits in a sustainable (ongoing) way is through a

farm group’s participation in relationship-based value chains7. A well established

value-chain (either with or separate from their cotton arrangements) can provide the

farm group with the security to put greater investment into crop and market

diversification.

5 Support system for farmers’ incl. training, internal control, technical advice, marketing... 6 Adapted from the Organic Business Guide, 2009.

7 The journey a product takes and the value it gains from production to final consumption.

“Organic Farming is not only farming but it is the way of a Better Life. It should be balanced instead of market oriented. Entire family should be convinced and be involved. Community development should occur through sharing the organic farming experience.”

Patel, H. Agrocel, Interlaken, 2009

Meatu has the highest cotton production in

Tanzania but 42% of children under 5 suffer from

chronic malnutrition

(Courtesy: Saro Ratter, Consultant for BioRe)

Poster on women‟s self help group in

Makasari, India

(Photo: Genus a.b)

Farmers use cattle to till soil. Men & women

walk behind to drop seeds down wooden

chutes into ploughed land

(Courtesy: Zameen Organics)


The dinner table...

Discussion8 with small scale organic cotton farmers suggests that at least a small

amount of what they grow is kept for their own needs. Organic farmers tend to

be, in general, reasonably self-sufficient in growing food for their domestic

needs, the amounts spent on ‘topping up’ is reserved for ‘luxury goods’9.

However, this is not always the case and varying or unpredictable circumstances

can have a severe impact on food security. In financial emergencies, farmers

tend to use their food stocks in lieu of cash10.

Farmers usually keep a good percentage of their rotation and associated crops

(their staples), such as rice, maize, beans and wheat for their own consumption –

this will be reflected by the region they live in and the favoured cuisine. For

example: corn, maize, and millet in both Latin America and Africa, and in India

we see rice, wheat, maize, and jowar. Research suggests that the majority of

plantation fruit such as bananas and mangoes are eaten at home. Some

quantities of oil seed, nuts, vegetables and herbs e.g. sesame, soya, groundnuts

are also retained.

Food crops entering a supply chain should not be encouraged if it compromises

food security – for the family, and the surrounding community. There may be

some opportunities, in some circumstances, for farmers to move a portion of the

crops they are reportedly not selling (or eating) - for example mangoes and

bananas - into a profitable business venture without upsetting food security.

8 Discussion held with OE Regional Farm Directors and through Farm System Crops surveys (08 and 09) 9 OE Closer Look at Sustainable Development on Organic Cotton Farms 09-10 (KPI report)

10 Reported by OE Regional Director India and Shell Foundation Report 2009

Oil, Nuts

Fruits,

vegetables

Lentils, Beans,

Grains


To market...

From the discussions and research OE has carried out over the past few years it is clear

that when a Farm Group is investing successfully in a variety of markets this is the

exception rather than the norm. Harvests that end up in the local market almost never

fetch a price that reflects the ‘quality’ that growing organically arguably provides (and

demands in more affluent societies). Nevertheless the local market is important for local

food provision and organic food is appreciated as better-tasting and ‘safer’ due to the

absence of chemicals used to grow it – making the organic product the one that sells.

Figure 2

11: Characteristics of local, regional and global markets for organic products

11 Figure 2 is from the Organic Business Guide 2010

Local rural markets

Regional urban markets

Global markets

Mainly export of commodities, with formal certification, organic and/or fairtrade premium

Mainly fresh produce for urban centres; possibly with some organic premium

Mainly staple food (rotation crops), with little or no organic premium

Logistics, quality requirements, premium, competition

Local market sales, Africa

(Photo: Simon Ferrigno)

Local market sales, Africa

(Photo: Simon Ferrigno)


Direct to local markets: Farmers sell their cotton through the marketing board of their

Farm Group. Occasionally the Farm Group will manage the supply chain of other

products to export. However, farmers will independently sell their other cash (rotation

and associated) crops into their local market and usually at conventional prices i.e. for

what they can get in competition with other crops sold in the same market and with no

‘premium’ for organic. These crops include cereals, grains, beans, seed-oils, and some

fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs and spices.

Figure 3: Local supply chain

Local Supply Chain

Producers

Local Retailer(e.g. NGO, small group, local

shops etc)

Neighbour Wholesale through Group

Big Retailers(e.g. Supermarket)

Small Retailers

Patel, H., Agrocel, Interlaken, 2009

Matching your product to the market...

Companies involved in export often do not, or do not like to

operate in local or regional markets. The local market is often a

different range of products from the export market.

Sometimes there is an overlap though, and thus the opportunity

to increase income diversity. The Organic Business Guide

provides examples of farm groups in Africa successfully matching

their products to market demand:

In Mali, dried mangos are going for export (some to the local

market), first-grade fresh mangos are mainly sold in regional

markets (some are exported), and the remainder goes for juice

sold in regional urban markets.

In Uganda, pineapples can be exported fresh or dried to Europe,

while some truckloads of fresh pineapples are sold to the juice

market in Kenya.

For honey producers in Tanzania it turned out to be more

profitable to sell to the Kenyan market (Regional) rather than to

export to Europe.

Source: Organic Business Guide, Helvetas /OFCC


Direct to domestic traders: A smaller number of cotton system

crops are reaching the domestic market. In Latin America crops

such as cocoa from Peru, and honey from Paraguay have a regional

presence. In Africa, some sesame and soya is sold for domestic use

(but is largely exported). Sales are either made by the Farm Group

or the individual farmer, and are likely to receive a higher price

than locally – although they do not always receive the organic

‘premium’. In India, the domestic market is largely under-utilised.

A small number of Farm Groups are investing in the processing and

selling of value-added products domestically i.e. dhal, atta, oils, and

spices to supermarket and other retail chains in the bigger cities.

The export market: A limited number of products are exported to

the North. However, the export market is probably more beneficial

right now than the domestic one. For obvious reasons there is a

greater appetite and ability to pay organic (and/or fair-trade) prices

in the North, although this may be changing as emerging

economies begin to impact on societies in the South. High-value,

high-demand products coming off organic cotton farms and

reaching the North include organically certified sesame, soya,

tapioca, sugar cane and canola.

For many developing countries, export markets still provide the

most promising opportunity for obtaining a reasonably high price.

However, requirements in terms of logistics, quality management

and formal certification are also the highest here. In addition, there

is competition with other countries that produce the same

products. A pure export focus with only one product is therefore

risky. It is often a better strategy to sell different products in

different markets (local, regional and international).

Managing supply and demand

In many internationally traded commodities, such as cotton,

demand never seems to match supply. It is obvious that when

supply is low, prices are high, and vice versa. Particularly in

smaller but growing markets, the relation of supply and demand

may change rapidly. Prices may be high one year, but when

another major producing country starts to harvest, then the

prices drop sharply (see the OE Farm and Fibre Report 2010).

There are a number of ways farmers can build up a buffer:

• Build strong relationships with different types of buyers that

cater to different retail markets and processing industries.

• Sell products in different countries on two different continents.

• Sell part of a product right after harvest but have the facility to

store part for six months.

• Always have a fall-back market for products in local and

regional markets.

• Grade products and use the different qualities for different

market channels (e.g. first grade fruits for fresh export, second

grade for drying, remaining for juice).

• Find a market for by-products (e.g. for cotton seeds).

• Diversify production.

Source: Organic Business Guide, Helvetas /OFCC


Adding extra value...

It is usually recommended that farm groups get the basics right first, i.e. the

production of good quality crops, before attempting to value add or further

process. In addition a good relationship between the farm group

(cooperatives, companies) and a buyer in the North is likely to improve the

chances of successful value-adding on a large scale. A secure grower-buyer

relationship and steady business can help in getting financing, for developing

the right equipment and product, and in securing at least one market. Some

very good examples exist of such cooperation that has even led on to new,

innovative products.

Whilst value adding on organic cotton farms is the exception rather than the

norm, there is some basic processing taking place: cleaning, drying, pressing,

processing and packing... and farmers are showing an interest to explore

further.

“There are plenty of new crops out there which we could farm. For instance alfalfa, vegetables in general, herbs, picingallo corn (popcorn)”

Prorganica, Paraguay

cleaning pressing packaging

processingShea

butter

processing

Vegetable

(soya) oil

processing

Groundnut

oil

pressing

Sesame

oil

Canola

oil

drying

decapping fermenting drying

drying

packaging

Drying Bissap

juice

Honey

Maize/corn

feed

Dried

banana

Cocoa

beans

Processing


Value addition does not necessarily mean investment in processing

facilities. Other ways include:

• Improving quality

• Adding certification (organic and/or fair trade)

• Simple processes like cleaning, grading, fermentation and drying

• More complex processes like extraction, ginning, pulping or

canning.

Organic Business Guide, Helvetas /OFCC

Traditional cleaning of pulses, India

(Photo: Prabha Nagarajan)

Post harvest care to soybean in Africa

(Photo: Silvere Tovignan)

Sorting spring onions, India

(Photo: Prabha Nagarajan)

Harvesting sesame

(Courtesy: PAN UK)


Part B: Stories from the Regions

(Courtesy: Enda Pronat)

Export opportunities from crop diversification in West Africa

Farmers in organic cotton projects in Senegal and Benin are exploring

opportunities for exporting selected food crops in addition to their

organic cotton exporting. Working with local NGOs Enda Pronat and

OBEPAB they are focussing on five crops: hibiscus; sesame; fonio cereal;

cashew and sheanut. These have been chosen by farmers because they

can be fairly easily grown and are useful rotation crops in their organic

farming systems. None of the crops are a part of the staple diet so

cultivating them for export will not undermine local food security.

Sesame seeds and cashew nuts are well-known in Europe and sheanut

butter is a valued ingredient for cosmetic use. Hibiscus flowers can be

used for colouring, flavourings and make a delicious fruit juice, known as

bissap in West Africa. Fonio is a tiny cereal grain, used traditionally as a

special treat food at family gatherings. Fonio is gluten-free and rich in

protein.

„Fibre, Food and Beauty for poverty reduction‟ - Is a joint project of PAN

Germany, PAN UK, OBEPAB from Benin and Enda Pronat from Senegal. It

aims to raise awareness about the many different food crops grown by

organic cotton farmers in Africa and help them to find better marketing

options for these, in local or export markets.

More consumers and food companies are taking an interest in sourcing

from African smallholders for ethical reasons, supporting farm families

through „trade, not aid‟, to help combat poverty in rural areas. The

project is bringing African partners to organic food trade fairs in Europe;

disseminating information at consumer events; and talking with

consumers, NGOs and companies to develop new, ethical trading

relations between cotton-based organic projects and European food and

cosmetic companies.

Pesticides Action Network (PAN) Germany and PAN UK




Read more about the project via http://www.pan-uk/foodAfrica and

www.pan-germany.org


Organic cotton and sheanut trees


Improved income through crop diversification in Mali

Mobiom - the umbrella organisation of organic farming cooperatives in

Mali - was mainly set up to organise the production of organic cotton.

They soon realized that there is some demand for organic sesame and

shea nuts - crops which were already grown by most of their farmers.

Mobiom hence included these crops in the extension activities in order

to improve their yields and quality, and to ensure that they can be

certified organic. They found a buyer for the sesame who locally cleans

the harvest and exports it for processing into sesame oil. In order to be

able to sell not only the shea nut but also its butter, they built a small

butter processing plant. Today, sesame and shea contribute about one

third of Mobiom's turnover. Without this diversification, the costs of

extension and certification per unit of produced cotton would be too

high to be cost competitive in the market. In 2009, when there was an

oversupply of organic cotton in global markets, Mobiom decided to

temporarily reduce the cotton area and to shift some of this area to the

production of sesame and fonio, a traditional cereal for which there is

high demand in the domestic market. A next step will be to promote a

leguminous crop like peanuts or beans grown in rotation with cotton

and sesame, which will help to improve soil fertility and thus yields.

Helvetas, Organic Cotton Competency Centre

Bio sesame plant


Use of animals in organic cotton farming



Farmer with harvested sesame stalks

ready for threshing


Young farmer with rick of fonio stalks,

Koussanar, Senegal


Neem tree seeds used for pest control

instead of pesticides


Harvesting organic cotton


West African farmers diversifying markets to manage risk

In 2002, Helvetas (the Swiss Association for International

Cooperation) started supporting cotton farmers in Mali to

convert to organic production and to access Fair Trade markets

in Europe. Within four years, the initiative that had started with

some 200 farmers grew into a producer organisation with

almost 2,000 members. New organic cotton initiatives were

subsequently started in Burkina Faso, Senegal and Benin. By

2008, in response to strong market demand, the number of

organic cotton producers in these initiatives had grown to

13,000. Besides cotton, the producer organisations also started

dealing with sesame, shea and other crops. Quick expansion of

organic cotton production in Asia and a slow-down in global

demand due to the economic crisis led to an oversupply of

organic cotton in 2009. As the crisis also affected some of the

buyers of the West African cotton, the producer organisations

decided to halt expansion until the market situation relaxes.

Farmers were encouraged to reduce their cotton area to some

extent, and to grow sesame, peanuts and fonio instead, for

which market prospects were better. In the end, the crisis

stimulated efforts to diversify production and markets, to

increase efficiency and thus reduce the cost price, and to

intensify local processing and value addition.

Frank Eyhorn, Helvetas


Oil Seeds Unit in Uganda

Lango Organic Farming Promotion (LOFP) is a farmers‟ association with

over 25,000 farmers. At the moment the organic membership is about

half this due to the Government of Uganda‟s decision to use DDT as part

of an indoor residual spraying programme to control malaria. But this has

not dampened the enthusiasm of LOFP to work with its members to find

new markets for its products and hopefully, in time, to regain the

certified organic status of all its members. Currently it is working with

farmers in the “sprayed area” on a project to promote the growing of

sesame and soya alongside the more traditional cash crop of cotton.

These are all valuable sources of oil, but - apart from the cotton seed -

are not destined for this market at the present time.

The sesame is a treasured local food source and has now found strong

markets in the neighbouring countries of Sudan and Kenya and even

reaches Ethiopia and Somalia, where the taste of the browner varieties of

north Uganda sesame are preferred over the whiter types of Sudan and

northern Ethiopia. The soya – of course without a hint of genetic

modification! – is destined for the animal feed markets of Kampala, where

it is being used to replace the now rare and costly fishmeal. Actually, one

of the possible markets is for the production of floating fish-food – a new

manufacturing plant has recently opened in Uganda – a product which is

finding increasing demand due to the serious over-fishing in the major

lakes of Uganda and the move to fishponds as an alternative source of

fish to satisfy the strong regional demand for fresh fish. Cotton is still a

major cash crop for the smallholder farmers of northern Uganda, but

farmers have learnt to spread their risks and in doing so, improve

rotations and cotton management, through adding these additional “oil”

seeds to their income portfolio.

The project supporting LOFP to promote soya and sesame amongst its

members is supported by the “LEAD Project” of USAID and technical

support is given through a working partnership with the Agro Eco Louis

Bolk Institute – Eastern Africa (www.louisbolk.org). Through this

diversification it is one of the major project targets that the LOFP member

households should each be able to earn at least 1,000,000 Uganda

Shillings (about $500) from each acre of production and most farmers in

this region are cultivating about four acres.

This would mean a household income of about $2000 per year which

places them well beyond the global poverty indicator income of about

$700/year. The Farmer Field School training approach is being used

to promote this production and so the farmers are guided to learn

from each other and confront opportunities and challenges in the

field, and hence improve production. The farmers are also

contributing to the success of the project through contributing their

own seeds as a cost sharing input.

Oil – mineral oil – has started flowing from Ugandan oil wells and

there is an expectancy that we will soon become another “gulf state”

and enjoy the luxuries of these countries?! Perhaps this is just a wild

dream, but a better reality might be the income small-holder farmers

can obtain through growing the organic oil seeds - sesame, soya and

cotton – and enjoy the direct income benefits which come with the

skilful use of a hoe or plough and not an expensive oil rig!

Alastair Taylor, Regional Manager, Agro Eco Louis Bolk Institute –

Eastern Africa

(Courtesy: Agro Eco Louis Bolk Institute –

Eastern Africa)


Organic market development in Paraguay, Latin America

Eco Agro is a „movement‟ creating local markets for agro ecological

products (i.e. products grown organically but not always certified as

organic). In the early days the programme was supported by ICCO to

get it up and running, and coordinated through a local NGO, Alter

Vida. The programme has been very successful and is now run as a

business distributing seasonal agro ecological products.

For 9 years now Eco Agro has been marketing and distributing agro

ecological products for farmers around the capital and beyond. Every

Monday a truck goes to the production areas to bring the seasonal

products into the city. The next day they are prepared and sold via a

delivery system to homes around Asunción (the capital city of

Paraguay).

Challenges for organic ‘wet’ markets in Asunción: In the capital

there have been attempts to organize „Wet Markets‟ exclusively

orientated to agro ecological products. However there are faced by

two main problems. First the weather which is extremely hot and

second, managing the supply. Products are expected to be available

for the entire day of the market. This is challenging, since they

usually sell out before the closing time and it is often difficult for

vendors to top up their stand (given the distance to the production

area and the fact that bringing more in advance is problematic, given

the lack of refrigeration).

People often prefer to go to the supermarket. However, the

supermarkets do not provide a good range of organic because there

is not strong consumer demand. This scenario results in pressure for

the producers and distributors of organic to be competitive with

conventional prices. At the same time producers don‟t generally like

to work with supermarket chains because their payment intervals (90

days) are too long for many small scale producers to wait. Thus, the

local consumer doesn‟t have a wide range of organic products to

choose from, and they remain reluctant to pay a higher price (just for

a few organic options).

Doraliz Aranda, Business Development Manager, Organic Exchange

By Doraliz Aranda, OE Business Development Manager

(Courtesy: Alter Vida)

(Courtesy: A

lter Vid

a)




Organic market development in Argentina, Latin America

The market for organic products in Argentina is now 2%. Organic

products include fresh fruit, vegetables, meats and processed

products such as wine, sugar, jams and marmalades, honey, juice and

preserves. These products are most likely to be found in specialised

or natural product stores; where product variety is slowly growing.

The supermarket chain “Bells” now has its own brand organic label.

Organic meat, wine and honey is not generally sold locally, most of it

(~90%) goes to the international market.

The organic farms provide products for restaurants, catering, stores

and farm-deliveries. The main places for eating organic are in

restaurants, where „organic‟ is mixed with vegetarian food and other

kind of „bio‟ food like macrobiotic. In Argentina, products have to be

certified organic to be retailed by shops. „Uncertified‟ organics (agro

ecological) are sold directly from the farms to the surrounding

communities.

In November 2009 the “Mercado Central de Buenos Aires” (biggest

distributor of fresh products) opened the “Paralelo Orgánico” which

sells organic fruit and vegetables. This is a new exciting venture but

consumer demand is still relatively low.

Every 4 months the Movimiento Argentino de Producción Orgánica

(MAPO) sets up a „wet market‟ in a very distinguished hotel, aimed to

promote organic products, another wet market in San Isidro also

operates. These events bring press coverage and promote organics

locally. http://www.mapo.org.ar/productos-organicos-en-el-mercado-

interno-y-puesto-en-el-mercado-central-2/

Helping consumers... Access to information about organic products is

available throughout the Country by contacting one of the four

certification bodies. There is also a consumer guide to organic and

sustainable products available in Buenos Aires, where the public can

easily choose where to go to eat organic food and buy organic

products.

Doraliz Aranda, Business Development Manager, Organic Exchange

Bells supermarket is offering organic

products under its house brand.

“Paralelo Orgánico” - A place for fresh

produce.

Various organic products available in

store and online.

Various organic products available in

store and online.


The Agrocel story, India

Agrocel is a private company, based in Gujarat, certified for both organic and

fair-trade production.

The Company that delivers “Service with a Human Face” was set up to serve the

farming community; in particular small and marginal farmers. It started life in

1998 with only 500 acres and around one hundred farmers operating mainly in

Gujarat with some production in Orissa. Today Agrocel has its own farming

networks (of over 15,000 farmers) growing cotton and associated system crops

across India: including strongholds in Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Maharashtra as

well as its origins in Gujarat and Orissa. Land under cotton, and other crops, is

now around 45,500 acres.

Agrocel also offers Internal Control System services to other projects and

producer groups as well as their own, from 26 Service Centres across India.

Along with organic cotton Agrocel‟s organic farmers grow sesame, paddy,

mustard, bajra, chick pea, lentils and peanuts as part of their farm system.

Agrocel contracts to buy the main crops of cotton and the aromatic rice, Basmati.

Cotton fetches a 4% premium and the rice a good 20%! Sesame gets 2%, and

castor 4%. There is no assurance of purchase for other crops such as pulses but

they are bought if a market can be found.

The fair trade crops are grown in several states including Gujarat, Andhra,

Karnataka, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. Raisins, rice and cotton are the main fair trade

crops. Cotton is sold within India to several leading mills. Raisins are mostly

exported and some quantity sold locally, as is the Basmati rice.

In the domestic market the produce is branded and sold as “Agrocel - Fair and

Pure”. Sales are mostly from the Agrocel Service Centres. Rice is sold in 20Kg

packets and raisins in 200 gram packets. The sales are promising.

Agrocel‟s Organic and Fair Trade Park in Dhrangadra in Gujarat, commissioned in

2008-09, is a far sighted effort that will give a much needed boost to the

business and is an example of Agrocel‟s sincerity of purpose. The park has a

running gin and an oil mill to process oil seeds. The proposed cleaning and

packing unit for pulses will help stabilise the procurement of pulses from the

farmers and help build the local markets.

With stronger processing and marketing efforts, Agrocel is set to support their

organic cotton farmers in a commendable way.

Prabha Nagaragan, OE Regional Director, India

Agrocel organic & fairtrade park

(Courtesy: Agrocel)

Seed production programme

(Courtesy: Agrocel)

Awareness generation events

(Courtesy: Agrocel)

Water saving technologies

(Courtesy: Agrocel)


Ecofarms, India: a brand to be reckoned with!

Ecofarms is one of the oldest players in the organic food and fibre production

in Iindia. They are a breakaway group from the Vidarbha Organic Farmers

Association.

From 150 farmers in 1990, Ecofarms now works with 20000 plus farmers who

farm 60000 hectares out of which 15000 hectares is in cotton and the rest in

a whole range of food crops.

It is operating in Maharashtra and Orissa states in India.

The cotton farmers grow important crops such as pigeon pea, green gram,

black gram, cow pea, chick pea, soya bean, flax seeds, sorghum and millets.

The farmers retain what they need for their own consumption and sell the rest

to Ecofarms.

In the non cotton area, paddy is important and aromatic varieties such as

KALA JEERA, non aromatic varieties such as SUVARNA and LALAT are grown.

Oil seeds such as sesame, peanuts, sunflower, and spices such as turmeric,

coriander, mustard and cumin are other crops grown successfully.

Ecofarms contracts to buy all the rotation crops, and has been in the grains

and pulses business since 1999.

Today they sell under their own label „ECOFARMS‟ in India and retail out of

more than 300 outlets in India though big retailers such as Food Bazaar,

Metro Cash & Carry, Reliance, Apna Bazaar and the like.

Ecofarms engages in good value addition and have attractive Nitrogen flushed

packaging. They are proud participants at BioFach Nuremberg and the India

Organic every year, and a name to reckon with in the Organic industry.

Anand Mor, son of Omparakash Mor the pioneer, and his wife Ashika proudly

carry the flag forward.

Prabha Nagaragan, OE Regional Director, India

Eco Farm‟s packaged food products

(Courtesy: Ecofarms)

Organic food grains


Organic food grains being cleaned by

traditional methods



Part C: A snapshot of crop diversification in Africa, Latin America and India

In 2009 12 producer groups completed the OE farm system crops (FSC) survey compared to a

total of 15 for the same regions in 2008 (note there were 27 submissions the first time round).

The OE Farm Team surveyed within Africa (Benin and Mali) and Latin America (Peru, Paraguay

and Nicaragua).

From the 12 producer groups that competed the survey 6 (50%) are ‘returnees’ – these are

OPEBAB and Mobiom (West Africa), Coproexnic, Prorganica, Ecotton and Oro Blanco (Latin

America). The reduced sample size and lack of a consistent contribution means we are only able

to get a snapshot of what is happening in the farms and any meaningful year-on-year and cross

regional comparison is extremely limited.

In India a detailed look at rotation crops in organic cotton farming was carried out by

independent consultants, i.e. outside of the OE survey. However, data for India was made

available by the consultants and the table on the left indicates which farm groups were part of

the independent project. Every attempt to compare data where possible has been made.

Figure 4: List of contributing producer groups

Note:

- ‘X’ shows producer groups that participated in FSC Survey

- ‘+’ shows producer group data that has been taken from ‘Potential for Rotational Crops & Value Addition Opportunities In Indian Organic Cotton Projects’ by the Shell Foundation dated 24 August 2009.

-

Region Country Project 2009 2008

FCS FCS

Benin OBEPAB X X

Egypt Sekem X

MOBIOM X X

YIRIWA X

BioRe X

BioSustain X

Senegal ENDA X

Uganda LOFP X

Brazi l Esplar X

Nicaragua Coproexnic X X

Aratex X

Prorganica X X

Oro Blanco X X

Peru Naturtex X

Ecotton (TUSA) X X

New Expo X

Ecotrade* X

APAEM X

Bergman Rivera X

Cedepas X

PNP X

Ecofarm +

Arvind + X

NOF +

Agrocel + X

Pratibha +

Maral +

Biore +

Mahima + X

Zameen + X

Chetna X

Organic Farms X

Vasudha X

Peru

Paraguay

India

Tanzania

Mal i

Latin America

Africa


What the survey shows... and what it doesn’t

The data presented in the next section reflects the information provided by 12 Producer Groups (3 in West Africa and 9 in Latin America) plus additional

information collected by an external consultant12 from 9 Producer Groups in India. When reading the results presented here please keep in mind:

• This is not a representative sample size and no extrapolation can be made.

• Any comparison between 2008 and 2009 is weak since the Producer Groups responding to the survey varied from year to year and the survey questionnaire changed to some extent between the two years.

• Interpretation of survey questions may have varied from Region to Region and between Producer Groups – due to language, terminology and general characteristics of survey management.

• The survey has been completed by the ‘Producer Group’. It is important to remember that this is the combined production of all farms that feed into the PG. Variations of rotation and other systems planting will almost definitely vary from farm to farm.

• Producer Groups may not have presented us with the complete list of the crops grown on farms (partly due to the reasons above). Crops that do not have a commercial value may also have gone unreported.

• Data from India has been collected differently from the rest and only in some areas can we compare this data with that collected by the OE survey.

- 12

‘Potential for Rotational Crops & Value Addition Opportunities In Indian Organic Cotton Projects’ by the Shell Foundation dated 24 August 2009.


Observations from Africa

Organic cotton system crops in Africa range from food to beauty; peanut, cashew, sesame, hibiscus, shea butter…

Most producers sell their harvest locally without any compensation made for organic value. Local consumers, even if some of them are aware

of the benefits of organic food, can hardly afford to pay an organic premium. Purchasing power is low and this prevents them from taking

consistent organic consumption decisions. This is the reason why most organic farm operators seek export opportunities for their crops.

The post harvest care and logistics are organized differently by the different projects. In Burkina, UNPCB (the cotton farmers Union) that

promotes organic cotton sells the harvest directly to BURKINATURE (an organic export company). BURKINATURE organizes all the logistic and

export of organic sesame and hibiscus. In Mali, YIRIWA, a company that promotes organic farming takes care of all processes. MOBIOM, the

Malian organic movement proceeds in the same way to export organic sesame, shea butter and hibiscus.

Market promotion and capacity building of farmers‟ organizations are important for the successful development of organic cotton‟s system

crops.

In terms of agronomic advantages, much evidence from farmers, and from researchers indicates that the yields of crops grown is rotation with

cotton are usually higher because these crops benefit also from the specific soil fertility and crop management care that has been taken for

cotton..

Silvère Tovignan, Regional Director, OE Africa


Observations from India

The growth of organic farming in India is on the increase, yet can be categorised as slow, given the great untapped potential domestically.

The challenge lies in:

The lack of information.

Stronghold of conventional channels for marketing and distribution.

Non availability of full basket for organic consumers.

The price factor of organic produce at the retail end. Delays in procurement and payment have been reported by some farmers,

pushing them to sell and realise money at the earliest opportunity (and so not receive an organic price).

Within the community of the organic cotton producers , there has long been a need for hand holding and support. The food crops

grown in rotation and in the intercropping systems will play a major role in making the organic cotton farmers lives less economically

challenged as well as realising the full potential of the effort of producing organic, but lack of support clearly results in the produce

ending up as conventional produce.

Data gathering of organic food crops remains a challenge and can only improve with better and timelier governance and more

transparency.

Some organising of markets is seen through the launch of brands such as 24 letter mantra, Ecofarms Organic, and food festivals

promoting organic, and on store shelves in major supermarkets.

Farmers markets and direct sales from farmer groups are also seen.

Policy support from the government is growing with APEDA and NCOF being active at the national level and State governments also

beginning programs at their level.

The issues around food production are the same as for fibre with the exception of the GM issue. Farmers grapple with lack of Package

of Production, lack of Extension, shortage of organic inputs, post harvest challenges such as storing, packing and timely transport and

lastly assured markets.

Prabha Nagarajan, Regional Director OE India


Observations from Latin America

The cotton ecosystem depends on the microbiological and physicochemical quality of the soil. These are crucial in cotton production and

crop rotation. A poor soil does not produce good crops; therefore, having a suitable rotation strategy can help improve integrated

management of the agro-ecosystem. For Latin America the predominant crops in the cotton rotation are maize and beans. These crops

provide nutrients to the soil (in the case of legumes like beans). These crops are also part of the diet and are part of a food security strategy.

This can be seen in Brazil, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Peru.

However, other crops are also selected by farmers, such as sweet potato and cassava, which together with maize and beans help improve

diet, but are also sold in local markets and help boost the incomes of the farmers. There are other crops - such as sugar cane in Paraguay - in

many cases the dominant crop and this is inserted into a well established retail chain. Local markets are multi-dynamic; they move with a

simple logic that prioritizes food security, continuity of cultural patterns and income generation in small scale, for example this happens in

many native communities in Peru. Production at this scale should ensure social, economic and cultural development. However, because the

development has this particular perspective, it is often little understood by the conventional market or conventional development systems.

In this particular vision of farmers, an important element for the integral development

of the cotton and crop rotation is the soil quality, therefore, the farmer selects the

best soils for „primary crops‟ that have greater economic value, in some cases they will

be used for food crops.

The market opportunities in this regard are limited, especially in key factors such as:

size of demand, economy, and preference for certain varieties. Moreover, lack of

knowledge on adding value to crop rotation and in many cases the poor interaction

between agricultural and consumer interests create much greater difficulties. Brazil is

probably the country that has done most work in research and creates bridges to build

connections between rural and market system.

Finally, in the development of agro-ecosystems of cotton and rotation crops,

companies that are allies of farmers play an important role. There is a need for

developing models and systems for greater business interaction with a logic of

integration, innovation and sustainable development.

Alfonso Lizarraga, Regional Director, OE Latin America


0 2 4 6 8 10

New Market-subproducts

Food safety & hygiene standard

Weed/Pest

Water Supply

Soil Fertility

Sales Marketing

Relationship with traders

Producer group logistics

Finance

Farming Technique/Training

Farming Equipment

Family food/income security

Crop/product quality

Latin America

Key Issue 1 Key Issue 2 Key Issue 3

0 1 2 3 4 5

Fire

Weed/Pest

Water Supply

Soil Fertility

Sales & Marketing

Relationship with Traders

Producer group logistics

Finance

Farming Technique/Trainning

Farming Equipment

Family food/income security

Crop/product quality

Africa

Key Issue 1 Key Issue 2 Key Issue 3

Top three issues

Producer groups were asked to share their most pressing concerns. Figure 5 illustrates that managing agronomic issues (weeds, pests, soil fertility and water

supply) and producing good quality crops are still high on the list of issues for many producer groups. A need to understand the market and improve access to it

are also important; both African and Latin American producer groups identify farmer training, finance, sales and marketing as key areas for improvement.

However, Latin American farmers also expressed concerns about food safety and hygiene, producer group logistics, and food security (especially farmers in Peru

and Paraguay). No matching data was collected from India.

Figure 5: Summary of Key Issues


About crops

The tables below compare the most frequently planted crops for 2009 with those reported for 2008. Since the producer groups reporting differed between the two

years it is not possible to make any real comparison. However, as a general observation it appears that maize remains a popular farm system crop (although,

interestingly, it was not reported by the African farm groups in 2009 even though 2 out of 3 of the producer groups were the same as 2008). Sesame continues to be

popular in all three regions. Groundnut and sunflower have disappeared from the list; in 2008 both were commonly grown in all three regions. The variety of farm

system crops appears greater in India than the other two regions.

Figure 6: 10 most commonly planted crops 2009 vs. 2008

Note:

- Data for India for 2009 is extracted from ‘Potential for Rotational Crops & Value Addition Opportunities In Indian Organic Cotton Projects’ by the Shell Foundation dated 24 August 2009. - The top 10 crops for 2008 were taken from ‘Farm System Crops Report 2008’. It should be noted that in the 2008 survey included other regions such as USA, Middle East, East Asia, however for

comparison purposes only figures from Africa, Latin America and India has been shown here.

Africa

Latin

America India Total Africa

Latin

America India Total

1 Maize/Corn 9 7 16 1 Maize/Corm 5 7 3 15

2 Sesame 2 3 4 9 2 Sesame 4 3 2 9

3 Soya 1 8 9 3 Beans 2 5 6 13

4 Green Gram 9 9 4 Groundnut 3 1 6 10

5 Pigeon Pea 8 8 5 Sorghum 4 4

6 Beans 1 6 7 6 Soya 2 1 2 5

7 Black Gram 7 7 7 Sunflower 2 1 4 7

8 Sorghum 7 7 8 Wheat 1 1 2

9 Wheat 6 6 9 Mung Beans 1 1 2

10 Millet 1 4 5 10 Black Gram 5 5

3 9 9 21 6 8 8 22

2009 Crops 2008 Crops

No of PGs: No of PGs:


Figure 7 shows the complete list of farm system crops reported by the 34 Farm Groups named in Figure 3,

39 in total. Figure 8 indicates the variety of crops found in each country and more specifically in each farm

group.

Note:

- Guava has been listed as a crop in figure 6-10 but in all graphs and tables it has been grouped together with mango as per its original survey submission.

Figure 7: Crops by number of farms growing Figure 8: Crops by countries and producer group

Africa

Latin

America India Total

1 Maize/Corn 9 7 16

2 Sesame 2 3 4 9

3 Soya 1 8 9

4 Green Gram 9 9

5 Pigeon Pea 8 8

6 Beans 1 6 7

7 Black Gram 7 7

8 Sorghum 7 7

9 Wheat 6 6

10 Millet 1 4 5

11 Bengal Gram 5 5

12 Groundnut 1 3 4

13 Chill i 4 4

14 Rice 1 3 4

15 Aniseed 3 3

16 Cassava/Tapioca 3 3

17 Cow Pea 3 3

18 Sunflower 3 3

19 Banana 2 2

20 Castor 2 2

21 Safflower 2 2

22 Sweet Potato 2 2

23 Cashew 1 1

24 Mango 1 1 1

25 Shea 1 1

26 Algarrobo/Carob 1 1

27 Aromo 1 1

28 Barbasco 1 1

29 Canola 1 1

30 Catahua 1 1

31 Cocoa 1 1

32 Crotalaria 1 1

33 Culster Bean 1 1

34 Honey 1 1

35 King Grass 1 1

36 Pasture 1 1

37 Pineapple 1 1

38 Sugar Cane 1 1

39 Guava 1 1

CropsRegion Country PG

Mali MobiomBenin Obepab

Mal i Yi riwa

Peru APAEM

Peru New Expo

Peru ECOTRAD

Paraguay ProrganicaParaguay Aratex

Nicaragua Coproexnic

Peru Peru Naturtex

Peru Oro Blanco

Peru Ecotton

Ecofarm

Arvind

NOF

Agrocel

Pratibha

Maral

Biore

Mahima

Zameen

Aromo

Soybean, Wheat, Rice, Maize, Green Gram, Pigeon Pea,

Sorghum, Sunflower, Sesame, Pearl Mi l let, Cow Pea, Chi l l i ,

Bengal Gram, Black Gram, Castor, Safflower

Soybean, Wheat, Maize, Green Gram, Pigeon Pea, Sorghum,

Sunflower, Sesame, Bengal Gram, Black Gram, Groundnut,

Safflower

Soybean, Maize, Green Gram, Pigeon Pea, Sorghum,

Sunflower, Pearl Mi l let, Black Gram

Beans , Maize/Corn, Sweet Potato, Cassava/Tapioca,

Maize/Corn, Sweet Potato

Crops

Africa

Latin America

Pasture, Maize/Corn, Rice, Cacao, Banana,

Cassava/Tapioca, Catahua, Barbasco, PineappleMaize/Corn, Sesame, Canola , HoneyBeans , Maize/Corn, Sesame, Sugar Cane

Cassava/Tapioca, Sesame, Beans , Maize/Corn

Beans , Maize/Corn, Beans , Banana

Sesame, Shea, Millet, Mango

Cashew, Beans, Groundnut

Soya, Sesame

Beans, Maize/Corn, Algarrobo/Carob, Mango, Guava

Soybean, Green Gram, Pigeon Pea, Bengal Gram, Black

Gram

India

Wheat, Rice, Green Gram, Sesame, Pearl Mi l let, Groundnut,

Castor, Culs ter Bean

Soybean, Wheat, Rice, Maize, Green Gram, Pigeon Pea,

Sorghum, Sesame, Pearl Mi l let, Cow Pea, Chi l l i , Black Gram,

Aniseed, Groundnut

Soybean, Maize, Green Gram, Pigeon Pea, Sorghum,

Aniseed


Cow Pea, Chi l l i , Bengal Gram, Black Gram


Chi l l i , Bengal Gram, Black Gram, Aniseed


Unfortunately the data is sketchy in Figure 9 and this makes it

difficult to show a clear picture of the proportions of land under

each crop or the tonnage produced although it would not be

surprising to confirm the accuracy of the picture presented in

figure 8; i.e. soya, wheat, rice and maize among the top tonnages.

From the information provided only farms in Peru are irrigated.

Figure 9: Crops by volume

Note:

- ‘Blanks’ indicates that the crop was not grown in the region whereas ‘ND’ indicates that no data.


“We want our Farmer Group to be in a good

position to fulfil standards (environment and

social equity), produce at a competitive price and

react quickly to buyer demands.”

Mobiom, Mali

India Total Total

Ha Tons Ha Tons Tons Ha Tons

1 Soya 111 ND 19519 111 19519

2 Wheat 13947 ND 13947

3 Rice 94 9514 94 9514

4 Maize/Corn 666 419 8594 666 9013

5 Millet 66 ND 6914 66 6914

6 Pigeon Pea 4426 ND 4426

7 Green Gram 3792 ND 3792

8 Sorghum 2643 ND 2643

9 Bengal Gram 2360 ND 2360

10 Sunflower 2152 ND 2152

11 Sesame 2755 62 143 85 1545 2898 1692

12 Chill i 1369 ND 1369

13 Black Gram 1183 ND 1183

14 Sweet Potato 77.43 860 77 860

15 Groundnut ND ND 467 ND 467

16 Cow Pea 339 ND 339

17 Cassava/Tapioca 53 154 53 154

18 Castor 153 ND 153

19 Aniseed 143 ND 143

20 Canola 117 130 117 130

21 Culster Bean 109 ND 109

22 Beans ND 60 144.5 33 145 93

23 Mango 150 40 ND 150 40

24 Safflower 36 ND 36

25 Shea ND 35 ND 35

26 Honey ND ND ND ND

27 Pasture 236.52 ND 237 ND

28 Cocoa 78.975 ND 79 ND

29 Catahua 44.55 ND 45 ND

30 Banana 35.39 ND 35 ND

31 Aromo 7.5 ND 8 ND

32 Barbasco 4.05 ND 4 ND

33 Pineapple 3.24 ND 3 ND

34 Algarrobo/Carob ND ND ND ND

35 Cashew ND ND ND ND

36 Crotalaria ND ND ND ND

37 King Grass ND ND ND ND

38 Sugar Cane ND ND ND ND

39 Guava ND ND ND ND

Crops

Africa Latin AmericaCrops


Figure 10 highlights the roles of crops collectively grown by West African and Latin

American farmers surveyed. It is interesting to see that in some cases such as with

maize, cassava and beans, the same crop has been reported as contributing to 3 or

4 different roles within in the farm system.

Figure 11 makes a comparison between the various crop roles within African and

Latin American farm systems, over the two reporting periods (08 and 09). Whilst

the graph shows reduced complexity in Africa and the reverse in Latin America it is

too early and the year-to-year survey comparison too weak to draw any

conclusions.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Africa Africa Latin America Latin America

Crop Function

No Response

Other

System

Trap

Intercrop

Rotation

Plantation

Border

Figure 11: System role by region

Figure 10: Crop roles by crop

Note:


Border Plantation Rotation Intercrop Trap System

1 Soya 0 0 1 0 0 0

2 Wheat 0 0 0 0 0 0

3 Rice 0 0 0 1 0 0

4 Maize/corn 0 1 6 4 1 0

5 Millet 0 0 0 0 0 0

6 Pigeon Pea 0 0 0 0 0 0

7 Green Gram 0 0 0 0 0 0

8 Sorghum 0 0 0 0 0 0

9 Bengal Gram 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 Sunflower 0 0 0 0 0 0

11 Sesame 0 2 3 0 0 0

12 Chill i 0 0 0 0 0 0

13 Black Gram 0 0 0 0 0 0

14 Sweet Potato 0 0 2 0 0 0

15 Groundnut 0 0 1 0 0 0

16 Cow Pea 0 0 0 0 0 0

17 Cassava/tapioca 1 0 2 1 0 0

18 Castor 0 0 0 0 0 0

19 Aniseed 0 0 0 0 0 0

20 Canola 0 1 0 1 0 0

21 Culster Bean 0 0 0 0 0 0

22 Beans 0 0 5 1 1 0

23 Mango 0 0 0 0 0 1

24 Safflower 0 0 0 0 0 0

25 Shea 0 1 0 0 0 0

26 Honey 0 0 0 1 0 0

27 Pasture 0 1 0 0 0 0

28 Cocoa 0 1 0 0 0 0

29 Catahua 0 0 0 0 0 0

30 Banana 1 1 0 0 0 0

31 Aromo 1 0 0 0 0 0

32 Barbasco 0 1 0 0 0 0

33 Pineapple 0 1 0 0 0 0

34 Algarrobo/carob 0 0 0 0 0 0

35 Cashew 0 0 0 0 0 1

36 Crotalaria 1 0 0 0 0 0

37 King Grass 1 0 0 0 0 0

38 Sugar cane 0 0 0 0 0 0

39 Guava 0 0 0 0 0 1

Crops


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Africa Latin America

Seeds are sourced from...

Naturally recycled Farm saved/grown

PG saved/grown Bought in organic

Bought in non-organic Customer supplied non-organic

Responses to seed sourcing, figure 12 are interesting for the variation of supply (not all from the same source and, particularly in Africa, some seed sovereignty13

demonstrated). This ‘desired scenario’ feeds into a bigger picture of ‘seed management and seed integrity’, an issue demanding much interest or concern in the

organic cotton growing sector but also linked to a more fundamental concern about food production and food ‘ownership’. From these results, it appears that

seeds (for non-cotton crops) are often managed on the farm and within the control of the farmer or the producer group. In Latin America, the situation appears

more complicated. Roughly 50% of seeds are reported to be within the management control of the farmer/producer group (or wild/forest produced) and the rest

are bought in as organic or non-organic equally with almost a quarter of the non-organic seeds coming in through an arrangement with a ‘customer supplier’14.

13 Seed sovereignty - A form of "food sovereignty; a platform for rural revitalization at a global level based on equitable distribution of farmland and water, farmer control over seeds, and productive

small-scale farms supplying consumers with healthy, locally grown food” Peter Rosset, Food First. 14

Customer supplied refers to the arrangements (financial) that a seed/agricultural supplier has with the farmer/farm group.

Figure 12: Seeds sourced from...

Region Country PG Naturally recycled Farm saved/grown PG saved/grown Bought in organic Bought in non-

organic

Customer supplied

non-organic

Mali Mobiom Shea, Mango Sesame, MilletBenin Obepab Beans, Groundnut CashewMali Yi riwa Soya, SesamePeru APAEM Algarrobo/Carob,

Mango, Guava

Beans, Maize/Corn

Peru New Expo Aromo

Peru ECOTRAD Pasture,

Maize/Corn, Rice,

Banana,

Cassava/tapioca,

Catahua,

Pineapple

Barbasco Cocao

Paraguay Prorganica Honey Maize/Corn,

Sesame, ConolaParaguay Aratex Beans,

Maize/Corn,

Sesame, Sugar Nicaragua Coproexnic Beans, Maize/Corn Cassava/Tapioca,

SesamePeru Peru Naturtex Maize/Corn Beans Banana Maize/CornPeru Oro Blanco Beans , Maize/Corn,

Sweet Potato,

Cassava/Tapioca,

Crotalaria

King Grass

Peru Ecotton Maize/Corn, Sweet

Potato

Africa

Latin America


Figure 13: Crops mainly grown for...

In figure 13 it is evident that a high percentage of farm system crops are grown for cash but as we see later, not always fetching organic prices15. African producer

groups reported that they keep a large amount of what they produce for their own consumption e.g. millet (better known as fonio in West Africa), and a portion of

the beans, groundnuts, sesame and soya they produced. In Latin America the proportion that stayed at home is not reported to be as high. Root vegetables such as

sweet potato, and cassava (yucca) are grown for market only. In India, most of the production of rotational crops is sold to the conventional chains by the farmers

directly. Farmers save about 30- 40% of production in the case of food staple crops like rice, wheat, maize, jowar and bajra for their own consumption; in the case

of small farmers it could be more , especially in the tribal belts. The proportion is lower for larger land holdings. Small quantities of crops like pulses and oil seeds

are also retained for self-consumption and the rest sold in the market. In the event of financial emergencies the farmers tend to use this stock in lieu of cash. Except

for cleaning and packing in bulk packs, the farmers do not process any of the rotational crops16.

15

Organic prices range but are usually at least ~15% higher than conventional 16 Extracted from ‘Potential for Rotational Crops & Value Addition Opportunities In Indian Organic Cotton Projects’ by the Shell Foundation dated 24 August 2009.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


Crops are mainly grown for...

Animal Feed Cash Crop Food Supply

On Farm Process No Response

Region Country PG Animal Feed Cash Crop Food Supply On Farm Process

Mali Mobiom Sesame, Shea,

Mango

Millet

Benin Obepab Cashew, Beans,

Groundnut

Beans, Groundnut

Mali Yiriwa Soya, Sesame Soya, Sesame

Peru APAEM Beans, Mango,

Guava

Peru New Expo

Peru ECOTRAD Pasture Maize/Corn, Rice,

Cocao, Pineapple

Banana,

Cassava/Tapioca

Catahua, Barbasco

Paraguay Prorganica Maize/Corn Sesame, Conola,

Honey

Paraguay Aratex Beans,

Maize/Corn,

Nicaragua Coproexnic Cassava/Tapioca,

Sesame

Beans, Maize/Corn

Peru Peru Naturtex Maize/Corn Beans, Maize/Corn Beans, Banana

Peru Oro Blanco Beans,

Maize/Corn, Sweet

Potato,

Cassava/Tapioca

Crolataria


Potato

Africa

Latin America


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


Who harvest?

No Response

Both

Men

About harvest

Figure 14 concludes that harvest by hand is standard practice in both Latin America and Africa.

Machine use is very rare but there is some mechanised harvesting in Latin America of maize or

corn, crotalaria and part-mechanised harvesting of sugar cane. In figure 15 shows that harvest

tends to be a job for all. African farmers, both men and women, participate in the manual

harvesting. Men tend to do any mechanised harvest and are reported to do the heavier or

more ‘dangerous’ work in Latin America. Women are involved when harvesting is ‘easy’ or

‘safe’ and for a number of crops grown in Latin America, harvesting is reported to be a family

affair (this was not a question in the survey – but offered as a general comment). For some

crops, producer groups reported that harvesting is carried out by the men only.

Figure 14: Harvest method

Figure 15: Who harvests?

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


Harvest Method

No Response

Combination

Machine

Hand

“Ambitions for the next five years include

improving the technical assistance system,

improving shea butter processing techniques

(including improved equipment for drying

and training of farmers.”

Mobiom, Mali


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


Breakdown of harvest

Own use Sold unspecified markets

Sold direct to local market Sold to local trader

Sold to domestic trader Sold to export trader

Sold to end user No Response

Figure 16: Breakdown of harvest (PG level)

Figure 16 builds on figure 13 and gives a more detailed breakdown of the channels the harvest is likely to enter. It is important to note that ‘own use’ includes farm

use and livestock feeding as well as food supply. Since Mobiom has not specified which market their crops were sold to an additional column was added to capture

the proportion (>20%) of production that ends up going to ‘a’ market. (See Case Study, page 18).

Figure 17 (following page) gives a visual overview of the percentage of each crop that is either used at home or goes to various markets.

Region Country PG Own use Sold unspecified

market

Sold direct to local

market

Sold to local trader Sold to domestic

trader

Sold to export

trader


Mango, Millet

Sesame, Millet,

Shea, MangoBenin Obepab Beans, Groundnut Cashew, Beans,

GroundnutMali Yi riwa Soya, Sesame Soya, Sesame Soya, SesamePeru APAEM Beans,

Maize/Corn,

Algarrobo/Carob,

Mango

Beans, Maize/Corn

Peru New Expo

Peru ECOTRAD Pasture, Rice,

Banana,

Cassava/Tapioca,

Catahua,

Barbasco,

Pineapple

Rice, Pineapple Maize/Corn,

Cocoa, Catahua

Paraguay Prorganica Maize/Corn Maize/Corn Honey Sesame, ConolaParaguay Aratex Beans , Maize/Corn Beans,

Maize/Corn,

Sugar Cane


Beans , Maize/CornCassava/Tapioca

Peru Peru Naturtex Beans , Maize/Corn,

BananaBeans, Maize/Corn

Peru Oro Blanco Crotalaria , King

Grass

Beans , Maize/Corn,

Sweet Potato,

Cassava/Tapioca


Potato

Africa

Latin America


0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

APAEM-Beans

APAEM-Maize/Corn

APAEM-Algarrobo/carob

APAEM-Mango/Guaba

ECOTRAD -Other

ECOTRAD -Maize/Corn

ECOTRAD -Rice

ECOTRAD -Cocoa

ECOTRAD -Banana

ECOTRAD -Cassava/Tapioca

ECOTRAD -Catahua

ECOTRAD -Barbasco

ECOTRAD -Pineapple

Ecotton-Maize/Corn

Ecotton-Sweet Potato

New Expo-Aromo

Oro Blanco-Beans

Oro Blanco-Maize/Corn

Oro Blanco-Sweet Potato

Oro Blanco-Cassava/Tapioca

Oro Blanco-Crotalaria

Oro Blanco-King Grass

Peru Naturtex-Beans

Peru Naturtex-Maize/Corn

Peru Naturtex-Beans

Peru Naturtex-Maize/Corn

Peru Naturtex-Banana

Own use

Sold to unspecified market

Sold direct to local market

Sold to domestic trader

Sold to export trader

Sold to end user

Peru

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Mali-Mobiom-Sesame

Mali-Mobiom-Shea

Mali-Mobiom-Millet

Mali-Mobiom-Mango

Mali-Yiriwa-Soya

Mali-Yiriwa-Sesame

Benin-Obepab-Cashew

Benin-Obepab-Beans

Benin-Obepab-Groundnut

Own use





Sold to end user

West Africa

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Coproexnic-Cassava/Tapioca

Coproexnic-Sesame

Coproexnic-Beans

Coproexnic-Maize/Corn Own use





Nicaragua

Note: - The duplicate entries for Maize/Corn and Beans for Peru Naturtex reflect the 2 different

farm locations under the group.

Figure 17: Breakdown of harvest (farm level)

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Aratex-Beans

Aratex-Maize/Corn

Aratex-Sesame

Aratex-Sugar Cane

Prorganica-Maize/Corn

Prorganica-Sesame

Prorganica-Canola

Prorganica-Honey

Own use





Sold to end user

Paraguay


Figure 18: When are crops harvested?

Note:

- Data for India for 2009 are based on months and is extracted from ‘Potential for Rotational Crops & Value Addition Opportunities In Indian Organic Cotton Projects’ by the Shell Foundation dated 24 August 2009.

- Data for Africa and Latin America are based on quarters as per the Farm System Crops Survey 2009.

The crop harvest calendar presented here in figure 18 gives an overview of when farmers are busy with harvest. West Africa and India have distinct harvest times

(due to monsoon or rainy season) whilst in Latin America harvesting – of various crops – is carried out all year long. Later, in figure 22, the calendar shows when

crops are sold to market.


About product and sales

Figure 19: Final Crop Grade

Note:

- ‘Grade not specified’ covers crops grown for the family, farm use such as pest management or for the local market.

Figure 19 illustrates the grades at which market products are sold. Note, ‘grades not specified’ was added as an option retrospectively since a number of products

were identified as entering a market stream but were the final grade was only checked as ‘other’ with no further details. Therefore the ‘other’ in the bar graph

corresponds with the final column in the table. Note also ‘catahua’ is a tropical hardwood. Farmers (from Ecotrad) independently process the sap from this tree to

produce bio-pesticides for the market.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


Final crop grade

Animal feed IngredientPremium OilGrade not Specified No Response

Region Country PG Animal feed Ingredient Premium Oil Grade not specified


MangoBenin Obepab Cashew, Beans,

GroundnutMali Yi riwa Soya, SesamePeru APAEM Algarrobo/Carob Beans, Maize/Corn,

Mango, Guava

Peru New Expo

Peru ECOTRAD Pasture Maize/Corn, Rice,

Banana,

Cassva/tapioca,

Pineapple

Cocoa, Catahua Barbasco

Paraguay Prorganica Maize/Corn Sesame, Conola HoneyParaguay Aratex Beans,

Maize/Corn,

Sesame, Sugar Nicaragua Coproexnic Cassava/Tapioca,

Sesame, Beans,

Maize/CornPeru Peru Naturtex Maize/Corn Beans, BananaPeru Oro Blanco King Grass Beans, Maize/Corn,

Sweet Potato,

Cassava/Tapioca

Peru Ecotton Maize/Corn Sweet Potato

Africa

Latin America


Figure 20: How long are goods stored before they are sold?

Figure 20 shows the length of time products are stored before they are sold. In Latin America the majority of crops are moved into the market within the month of

harvest. However, African production can take up to six months to prepare. This generally reflects the type of product and the primary processing that takes place

before sale (such as drying, pressing) as much as any logistical concern.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


How long are goods stored before they are sold?

<1mth 1-3 mths3-6 mths 9-12 mth>12 mths No Response

Region Country PG <1mth 1-3 mths 3-6 mths 9-12 mth >12 mths

Mali Mobiom Mango Sesame, SheaBenin Obepab Cashew, Beans,

GroundnutMali Yi riwa Soya, SesamePeru APAEM Maize/Corn BeansPeru New Expo

Peru ECOTRAD Pasture,

Maize/Corn,

Cocoa, Banana,

Cassava/Tapioca,

Catahua,

Barbasco,

Pineapple

Rice

Paraguay Prorganica Sesame, Conola Maize/Corn, Honey

Paraguay Aratex Beans , Maize/Corn,

Sesame, Sugar

Cane


Sesame, Beans ,

Maize/Corn

Peru Peru Naturtex Banana Beans, Maize/Corn

Peru Oro Blanco Beans , Maize/Corn,

Sweet Potato,

Cassava/Tapioca,

Crotalaria , King

Grass


Potato

Africa

Latin America


Figure 21: How are good sold to market?

The Africa supply chain tends to reflect the work of the Farm Group’s marketing board and supporting-NGO. Mobiom work with at the Farm Group level to move

sesame, shea, fonio (a form of millet) and mango into various supply chains. Farmers that sell cotton through OBEPAB independently sell their cashew, beans and

groundnuts. Yiriwa sell soya at the Farm Group level and individual farmers manage the sesame. For Latin America there is currently no combined process for

selling cotton and other commercial products; it is either managed independently by the farmers or aggregated and sold independently of the cotton chain.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


How are goods sold to market?

By PG not with cotton By PG with cotton

Independently by farmers No Response

Region Country PG Independently by

farmers

By PG with cotton By PG not with

cotton


Millet, Mango

Benin Obepab Cashew, Beans,

Groundnut

Mali Yiriwa Sesame Soya

Peru APAEM Beans, Maize/Corn

Peru New Expo

Peru ECOTRAD Rice, Cocoa,

Catahua,

Pineapple

Maize/Corn

Paraguay Prorganica Sesame, Conola,

Honey

Paraguay Aratex Beans,

Maize/Corn, Sugar

Cane

Sesame

Nicaragua Coproexnic Sesame,

Cassava/Tapioca,

Beans, Maize/Corn

Peru Peru Naturtex Beans,

Maize/Corn,

Peru Oro Blanco Beans,

Maize/Corn, Sweet

Potato,

Cassava/Tapioca


Potato

Latin America

Africa


Figure 22: When are goods sold to market?

Figure 23: Know the final destination of goods?

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%


Know goods' final destination?

No Response

No

Yes

Generally speaking products destined for export or large domestic markets have distinct sales

periods – whereas there is a constant trickle into local markets. In figure 23 it is evident that

farmers are fairly aware of where their products go – but difficult to deduce whether farmers

would know the exact product ends up. Local markets are obviously fairly straight forward.


Figure 24: Crops with Organic Premium, Certified Organic & Certified Fair-trade

In figure 24 the farm system crops that enter an organic or fair-trade certification and premium price stream are listed in columns 4-6 of the table. It is evident that

these are the crops that are grown for export or enter large domestic supply chains. Organic crops are certified by the Control Union and Fair-trade by the Fair

Trade Labelling Organisation (FLO-cert).

Organic certification of crops in Africa approximately matches those that receive the organic premium; in fact fonio (millet) is reported to be achieving a price-

addition but is not certified organic. We see the reverse happening in Latin America. Only a little more than half the crops that are certified organic are enjoying an

additional financial boost.

Fair trade certification is less common in both Regions. However, not all farm system crops are eligible for ‘fair trade’ certification.

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Organic Premium Certified Organic Certified Fairtrade

Organic Premium, Certified Organic & Certified Fairtrade


“How we have improved the financial situation for our

farmers: Low cost financing to small farmer groups, fair trade

incentives paid to groups not certified by FLO”

Naturtex, Peru

Region Country PG Organic Premium Certified Organic Certified Fairtrade


Millet, Mango

Sesame, Shea,

Mango

Shea, Mango

Mali Yi riwa Soya, Sesame Soya, SesamePeru New Expo

Peru ECOTRAD Cocoa, CatahuaParaguay Prorganica Sesame, Conola ,

Honey

Sesame, Conola ,

Honey

Paraguay Aratex Sugar Cane Beans,

Maize/Corn,

Sesame, Sugar

CaneNicaragua Coproexnic Cassava/Tapioca Cassava/Tapioca,

SesamePeru Peru Naturtex Beans , Maize/Corn Beans , Maize/Corn Beans , Maize/Corn

Peru Oro Blanco Beans , Maize/Corn,

Sweet Potato,

Cassava/Tapioca

Peru Ecotton

Africa

Latin America

Note:

- Organic Premium, Certified Organic and Certified Fairtrade columns have been intentonally left blank as the information was not provided in the survey.


About opportunities

The following graphics summarise the survey participants’ response to market

opportunities. In figure 25 it is evident farmers are growing a number of crops

that they consider to be ‘marketable’. The main inhibiting factors are not

necessarily agronomic but more about access to finance and timely ‘market

intelligence’ i.e. having an understanding of the market and being able to

‘keep tabs’ on supply and demand etc. This message is nothing new and how

to improve access to information and secure (pre-) financing continues to

challenge farmers in the South, as it does the providers of information or

finance, globally.

This conundrum can be seen in figure 26 in terms of value-adding and access

to finance. The skills shortage that is currently evident would mean that any

further value-adding would first require an investment in farmer training.

Figures 27 & 28 indicate that there is indeed potential to diversify income by

taking advantage of other crops grown as part of the organic farm system, as

periphery or border crops for example tropical fruits, herbs, spices,

vegetables and cocoa. Once again it comes down to access to information –

about how to make inroads to markets, particularly organic. Finding buyers

and establishing value chains for non cotton crops is a big challenge when

most supply chains are ‘single product’ based not relationship based.

“Training the farmers to develop leadership qualities,

marketing skills for collective bargaining and educating them

to strengthen their farmer organisations to execute their plans

and internal control systems so that over a period of time they

become independent. Alongside the training of farmers and

strengthening their associations, creating the producer

company with tangible assets which can process and trade

multiple agro-commodities.”

Zameen, India

Ambitions... “4 crops to export and 4 crops to local and

national market. Increasing the animal production, and

include on agroecologic system. More good life conditions,

example, house, basic services, nutrition, and education.

Develop other points to cash money, example, handicrafts,

ecotourism, fish farms, etc.”

Ecotrad, Peru


Figure 25: Opportunities and challenges to diversifying cash crops

In figure 25 the fourth column in the table contains the list of products identified by Farm Groups as ones they would consider growing more of, or would consider

introducing. The fifth column contains some of the challenges or barriers currently preventing expansion or new production. There are common themes around

access to finance, understanding of the market, and farmer training.

“It is a shame that in this country where there is so much

arable land, we can produce so little due to a lack of financing

for farmers to increase their production.”

Caproexnic, Nicaragua


Figure 26: Opportunities & challenges for value-adding

Figure 27: Market for better quality product?


Figure 28: Opportunities for greater return?

In figure 26, 27 and 28 farmer training, access to information and better financial investment are the three key recurring themes for improved product quality,

market growth and value adding. Here, Farm Groups have identified the crops that they would grow, market and further process if these elements could be

improved.

“Ambitions for the next five years include

investing in ginning mill and oil factory”

Yiriwa, Mali

“We want our Farmer Group to be in a good position to fulfil

standards (environment and social equity), produce at a

competitive price and react quickly to buyer demands.”

Mobiom, Mali


Parting thoughts...

This discussion paper was produced to give a snapshot of the organic cotton

farm system; the roles of different crops in the system, the benefits of

diversification, the crops for home use and those for market. But most of all it

was written to highlight the place the Industry is on its journey. There is more

to an organic cotton farm than organic cotton!

‘Interim conclusions’ from Organic Exchange are a mix of observations,

reflections, questions and recommendations for what might happen.

• The organic cotton industry, until now, has mostly been ‘all about cotton’. Growers see themselves as cotton farmers, buyers are only interested in buying cotton, and most industry support, marketing and promotion is focussed on cotton. However, cotton is a crop that is part of a system, and the cotton farmer is a producer of many crops. Shouldn’t the support, marketing and promotion better reflect the diversity of a farmer’s production?

• There must be a role that Marketing Boards of Producer Groups can play to promote the basket of products available from their farmers – for local, regional and/or export markets.

• Should Organic Exchange be working with equivalent organisations for other crops? Is there an ‘Organic Exchange’ for sesame or cashew?

• Some ‘Organic Cotton Growers’ are now getting as much, if not more income from a secondary crop such as sesame. How can Producer Groups support their farmers to establish a second stream of income – and the (new) value chain? Or look at ways to integrate or maximise efficiencies in the supply chains of both products.

• How could joint-certification of all organic crops (i.e. a farm certification) be achieved?

• What can be done to boost the profile of doubly-specialized intermediaries or create more of them? Building stable and secure value chains for one product is hard enough!

The final comment is one for debate and discussion: how much should we

question the status quo? Could it be that farm system crops are doing exactly

what they should be doing already? Providing food for the family and a

contribution of accessible fresh, ‘safe’ produce to the local marketplace (with

some contribution to export and emerging domestic markets)?

Disrupting this local supply chain should surely be avoided. Especially if the

result is the farmer and his or her local community eating lower grade food or

spending all their cash on ‘topping up’ food supply.

Can a balance be achieved; robust local markets, and proportional, selective

production of high demand, high value crops for larger supply chains? These

are the questions to weigh up as part of the quest for sustainable

development at the organic cotton farm gate, and beyond.

a closer look at crop diversification in organic cotton...

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