Organic Cotton Farming Research Articles

Evaluation of Effects of Cotton Growing on the Environment and the Population in the Koutiala Circle

Since 1960, cotton cultivation has experienced considerable expansion in the Koutiala district of Mali. This expansion has not been without consequences on people’s health and natural resources in terms of soil, water and natural vegetation. Based on the analysis of satellite images and a socio-economic survey of production unit chiefs, this study highlights the degradation of soils, biological diversity, population health, and pollution of groundwater and surface water. To reduce these effects, the adoption of good agroecological practices, the organic cotton farming, the reduction of the use of chemicals, and the sustainable management of water and soil are becoming a necessity to ensure sustainable management of environmental resources and the preservation of the livelihoods of local producers.

Performance and Sustainability of Organic and Conventional Cotton Farming Systems in Egypt: An Environmental and Energy Assessment

Cotton cultivation is resource-intensive, posing significant environmental challenges, especially with conventional farming methods. Growing interest in sustainable agriculture drives the exploration of organic farming as a potential alternative with lower environmental impacts. Despite its benefits, organic farming often faces criticism for lower crop yields, sparking debates on the trade-offs between productivity and environmental impact. This study hypothesizes that organic cotton farming will have a smaller environmental footprint and higher energy efficiency compared to conventional methods. To test this hypothesis, a cradle-to-farm gate energy analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA) were conducted on both organic and conventional seed cotton production systems in the Beheira governorate of Egypt. The ReCiPe 2016 midpoint and endpoint characterization model was used for an environmental impact assessment. The impacts were evaluated using two functional units: one ton of seed cotton and one hectare of cultivated cotton. The findings revealed that organic cotton outperforms conventional cotton in net energy gain, efficiency, and profitability, with higher productivity and lower energy intensity. Regardless of the functional unit used (mass- or land-based), the assessed organic systems generally show a better environmental performance than the conventional systems in the local context, even when accounting for data uncertainty. This is due to lower input intensity and the use of less energy-intensive organic fertilizers and bio-fertilizers. Fertilization and irrigation are key factors influencing environmental impacts, with fertilization affecting midpoint impacts and irrigation affecting endpoint impacts. Therefore, precision fertilization, efficient irrigation practices, and effective nutrient and soil moisture management are recommended to minimize environmental impacts. Subsequent studies could explore whether similar patterns are observed in different geographic regions and evaluate additional social and economic aspects of cotton sustainability beyond environmental impacts. Future agricultural LCAs should use both mass-based and area-based functional units to capture a broader range of environmental effects and evaluate the co-benefits and trade-offs between organic and conventional practices.

Organic Cotton Farming: Exploring Planting Rates for Sustainability and Yield

Organic Cotton Farming: Exploring Planting Rates for Sustainability and Yield

Economic Assessment of Sustainable Cotton Production in Maharashtra, India

Cotton, the king of fibers is often quoted as ‘White Gold’ because of its higher commercial values. It is a primary raw material in the textile industries. Cotton, cotton yarn, cotton fabrics and garments have substantial demand in the global market. Cotton is the most important fibre crop of India playing a dominant role in its agrarian and industrial economy. In the present study efforts have been made to study the cost, returns, profitability of organic and conventional cotton. The primary data required for the study were collected during year 2021-22 from 320 cotton growers of Maharashtra. Simple statistical tools like averages and percentages were used in analysing the collected data and standard cost concepts was used for analysis. The result of the study examined that, the total cost of production (cost ‘C’) of cotton was worked out to Rs. 87633 and Rs. 72683 in conventional irrigated and conventional rainfed cotton cultivation, respectively, the per hectare conventional rainfed cotton production was worked out to be 13.18 qtls. The per hectare conventional irrigated cotton production was worked out to be 20.95 qtls. The benefit-cost ratio was estimated to 2.09 and 1.77 for irrigated and rainfed respectively, This indicated that, organic irrigated cotton production was more profitable than organic rainfed cotton. Organic cotton farming promises to be a more sustainable form of agriculture that is aimed at producing food in a more environmentally friendly, economically viable and socially just way. Organic methods also have wider social and environmental benefits that come from the use of sustainable methods.

Institutional dimension for sustainable development: the relationship of organic and conventional cotton farming with government

Abstract: This study aimed to examine the institutional dimension of conventional and organic cotton farming; specifically, the relationships between farms and government organizations. In both, conventional and organic production systems, the farmers are located in varying institutional environments. These environments include a social capital formed by relationships of trust and cognitive affinities. This study focused on the social capital and guidelines for sustainable development. Multiple study cases were used for explanatory purposes. Such cases refer to a conventional cotton farming business and a civil society organization dedicated to organic cotton farming, both located in the state of Piauí. A comparative analysis perspective was adopted based on the elements of content analysis. The results showed that the conventional cotton farming business comprises relationships with governmental organizations that are predominantly oriented towards economic efficiency purposes, while the family-based organic cotton farming association comprises relationships oriented by economic, social, and environmental objectives. The present study extends the discussion on these topics by analyzing the institutional dimension oriented towards the sustainable development premises.

Community transformation through certified organic cotton initiatives—an analysis of case studies in Peru, Tanzania and India

AbstractThis paper examines how certified organic cotton initiatives (COCIs) influence community capitals in rural Peru, Tanzania and India using the community capitals framework (CCF). Case study analyses, including qualitative interviews of farmers, expert interviews and participatory observations, were conducted in Northern Peru, Northern Tanzania and Eastern India. The results show slight changes in community capitals in Peru, while comprehensive changes and spiraling-up effects were triggered by certified organic cotton farming initiatives in Tanzania and India. These community developments strongly depended on set measures, such as the extent of (1) partnership (e.g., contract farming), (2) input support (e.g., seeds, loans, community infrastructure), (3) capacity building (through training and advisory services), (4) group formation and (5) formation of cooperatives. Favorable environmental conditions and supporting local institutions facilitated spiraling-up effects, while social preconditions (e.g., gender inequality) strongly limited these effects. The research showed that COCIs have considerable potential to trigger spiraling-up effects in rural communities. However, the capacity strongly depends on the respective initiative and its ability to involve and empower farmers, i.e., to build up human and social capital.

Adoption and impact of organic cotton farming practices on households' livelihoods in the central-eastern region of Burkina Faso

This study aims to examine the adoption and the impact of organic farming in the specific case of organic cotton farming in Burkina Faso. The adoption and impact of organic cotton production is investigated through an endogenous switching regression model to control for the endogeniety of the adoption decision. The results of the study revealed that factors such as the experience in cotton farming, the education of the head of household, household size, the gender of the head of household and the knowledge provided to cotton farmers through radio emissions affect negatively the decision to grow organic cotton while the age of the head of household has a positive impact on the decision to grow organic cotton. The adoption of organic cotton farming has a significant positive impact on the returns on cotton production of organic cotton farmers but affect negatively their capacity to grow non-cotton crops.

Adoption and impact of organic cotton farming practices on households' livelihoods in the central-eastern region of Burkina Faso

This study aims to examine the adoption and the impact of organic farming in the specific case of organic cotton farming in Burkina Faso. The adoption and impact of organic cotton production is investigated through an endogenous switching regression model to control for the endogeniety of the adoption decision. The results of the study revealed that factors such as the experience in cotton farming, the education of the head of household, household size, the gender of the head of household and the knowledge provided to cotton farmers through radio emissions affect negatively the decision to grow organic cotton while the age of the head of household has a positive impact on the decision to grow organic cotton. The adoption of organic cotton farming has a significant positive impact on the returns on cotton production of organic cotton farmers but affect negatively their capacity to grow non-cotton crops.

Efficacite Du Baume De Cajou Contre Les Chenilles Carpophages Du Cotonnier Au Nord Du Benin

Cotton remains the main source of foreign exchange for Benin. This study aims to contribute to increased yield of organic cotton through the evaluation of the effectiveness of cashew balm as an alternative method of management of carpophagous pests of cotton. The experimental setup consists of Fisher Blocks with 6 objects in 4 repetitions. The objects compared are '' Unprocessed '', the Agri-bio-pesticide dosed at 1 l / ha, two concentrations (1% and 2%) of the hot and cold-extracted cashew balm. Linear mixed or fixed effects models and generalized linear models with mixed or fixed effects were used to determine the influence of the objects on the carpophagous larva and their damage in 2015 and 2016 in Thya to the north of Benin. The number of Helicoverpa armigera larva found in 30 plants ranged from 1.2 (Agri-biopesticide) to 2.3 (Untreated) in 2015. The percentages of green capsules with holes varied by 36.08% (Agri-bio-pesticide) at 53.68% (1% cold-extracted balm) in 2015. The percentages of ripe capsules with holes varied from 32.05% (hot-pressed balm at 2%) to 45.00% (Untreated) in 2016. Seed cotton yield ranged from 229.91 kg / ha (Untreated) to 500 kg / ha (Agri-biopesticide) in 2016. It is noted that Agri-bio-pesticide and the 2% dose of cashew balm, were more effective than that of 1%. The cashew balm is positioned as an alternative to biopesticides used in organic cotton farming.

Impact of producer company model on knowledge levels of organic and conventional cotton farmers

The present study was conducted in Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh state. Ex-post facto research design was followed. Sixty organic and sixty inorganic cotton farmers were selected for the study. A knowledge test was developed with 45 items to collect the data from the respondent farmers on organic cotton farming. For response analysis these 45 items were grouped into four broad categories such as conversion and certification requirements (Items 9), land preparation, biomass development, sowing and weed management (Items 9), plant protection (Items 18), and harvesting and post harvest management (Items 9). The findings of the study indicated that majority of organic cotton farmers had high (75 %) level of knowledge; contrary to this majority of conventional cotton farmers had low (43 %) level of knowledge. With regard to the knowledge level on selected organic practices- conversion and certification requirements of organic cotton were ranked first and the practices of plant protection was ranked least by the organic cotton farmers. Whereas the conventional cotton farmers ranked the practices of land preparation, biomass development, sowing and weed management as first and the practices of certification and conversion requirements was ranked least.

Organic Cotton Farming in Kutch, Gujarat, India

Organic Cotton Farming in Kutch, Gujarat, India