Organic Cotton Farming Set to Benefit Farmers

Organic cotton farming set to benefit farmers

Dodoma and Sangida local farmers have stepped up and became dedicated in growing organic cotton as it fetches better prices due to its quality and preference to local and international markets. This organic cotton, like anything else environmentally friendly is being preferred over any other type of textile currently and it will behoove anyone able to produce it to do so. Farmers in Dodoma and Singida regions are starting to step up and meet demands of the new organic cotton ginnery as well as production of the textile. The ginnery has been revived by Bio-sustain and Rural Livelihood Development Company (RLDC), to help farmers in the central corridor get reliable market for their cotton. In a region as the Central Corridor, producing organic cotton will not only increase the income of local farmers, but it will also help that area as well to possibly improve their standard of living.

The Singida Regional Commissioner, Mr. Parseko Kone said that farmers have improved expected cotton production from 5oo tones to 2,400 tones, and with that increase in production it has resulted in a raised income for the farmers to an average of 350,000/annually from 218,000/annually in 2006. The establishment of a ginnery is advantageous in multiple ways, it can largely increase the number of producer groups and cotton farmers that are engaged in contract farming with Bio-sustain and ensure that all of the cotton produced in parts of Manyara secure a steady market. With the increase in Organic Cotton production there will be a tremendous increase in the use of this environmentally friendly textile in our economy. Many companies today are switching to producing their products with solely organic cotton or only buying from companies that use organic cotton, for example H&M is said to be one of the largest users of Organic Cotton than any other clothing retailer and because of this, it has set that at a really high advantage over other retailers.

Organic Cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, reduce the use of toxic pesticides, and build biologically diverse agriculture. Organic Cotton fiber is used in everything from personal items to home furnishings, children's products, clothes,and even stationary and note cards. If you think of the many uses and the large quantity that must me produced to satisfy demand it is expected to use organic cotton and do all that we can to help our economy.