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Better Cotton in India

India is the world’s second largest producer of cotton after China and cotton is one of the country’s most important crops. India has been producing cotton for textiles for thousands of years, and today, some 5.8 million farmers make a living from growing cotton with tens of millions of people working in the cotton industry.

Slide 1
908,0
Licensed Farmers
0,480
Tonnes of Better Cotton
1,500,286
Hectares Harvested

These figures are from the 2021/22 cotton season. To find out more, read our latest annual report.

India was one of the first countries to implement the Better Cotton programme, with the first harvest of Better Cotton produced in 2011. It has the largest number of farmers participating in the programme and growing Better Cotton. India also has the largest area under cotton cultivation in the world – over 12 million hectares. However, farmers can face many growing and productivity challenges, and as all Better Cotton Farmers in India are smallholders (farming on less than 2 hectares of land), Better Cotton and our Programme Partners work closely with them to help them secure better yields and fibre quality.

Better Cotton Partners in India

Better Cotton works with 13 Programme Partners in India:

  • Aga Khan Rural Support Programme India
  • Ambuja Cement Foundation
  • Arvind Ltd.
  • Action for Food Production (AFPRO)
  • Basil Commodities Pvt. Ltd. (Basil Group)
  • CottonConnect India
  • Deshpande Foundation
  • Development Support Centre
  • Lupin Human Welfare and Research Foundation
  • Vardhman Textiles
  • Spectrum International (SIPL)
  • Welspun Foundation for Health and Knowledge (WFHK)
  • WWF India

Sustainability challenges

Climate change, water scarcity and poor soil health make cotton-growing a real challenge for India’s cotton farmers. Cotton in India also experiences constant pest pressures.

While pink bollworm infestations decreased by 70% in 2018-19 compared to the previous season, pressure from other common pests remained similar to previous years with increased pesticide resistance in some regions, which can have a knock-on effect on yields. Farmers do everything they can to protect their crops, but with a lack of knowledge of best practices in managing pests, they can often use pesticides too regularly or opt for harmful chemicals. This puts their health at risk and damages the environment. That’s why Better Cotton and our partners are working hard to help farmers use pesticides more safely and precisely and opt for more sustainable alternatives.

We also help farmers nurture soil health by understanding the best way to use fertilisers and the benefits of rotating crops and to support them in protecting and restoring nature in and around their farms.

Gender inequality and decent work are also central to our work in India. Only around 20% of the people we trained in India in 2018-19 were women.

Also, many cotton workers face poor working conditions, discrimination and low wages, particularly those from underprivileged, rural communities or migrant families. Children, too, may be vulnerable to working in the cotton fields. Working with our Programme Partners, we’re constantly stepping up our efforts to provide high-quality training to both men and women in a way that’s respectful of cultural traditions. We’re also working closely with communities, schools and local authorities to help protect workers’ rights, eliminate the risk of child labour and promote the importance of children’s education.

Find out more about the outcomes farmers are experiencing by participating in the Better Cotton programme in our latest Farmer Results Report.

It all began back in 2012, when a group of us Better Cotton Farmers in Kanakya village set up a committee to help other farmers in our community use pesticides and fertilisers more efficiently. We wanted to promote plant-based natural alternatives, but they weren’t readily available locally, so we had to find a way to make it easier for farmers to gain access to these products at reasonable prices. And we also had to convince them to change their ways by showing them the results in the field.

My wife was supportive of my ambitions. But my brother, who is also a cotton farmer, was sceptical, and tried to persuade me against it. Even my parents were apprehensive, concerned by the uncertainty and potential yield loss.

As our groundwater becomes saltier, we become trapped in a vicious cycle. The soil also becomes salty, reducing the cotton plants’ ability to absorb moisture and nutrients, which has a direct impact on our yield and profits.

Watch our video on how Better Cotton Farmers in India are improving their livelihoods.

Get in touch

Contact our team via the contact form if you’d like to learn more, become a partner or you’re a farmer interested in farming Better Cotton.