The new organic cotton project

In Togo, more than 200,000 people are occupied in the cotton sector. Cotton is the largest source of export receipts. Cotton in Togo is primarily grown in the North of country on farms with an average land area of 1 hectare. The farm gate price of cotton in Togo are decreasing since several year and dropped further from 175 f CFA/kg of cotton seed in 2004-05 to 160 f CFA in 2005-06. As a result of price decreases and reduced production volumes, the earnings of cotton growers in Togo decreased by 60% between 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Among the hazardous pesticides used in Togo, we can mention Endosulfan. This pesticide is particularly used in the treatment of cotton as an alternative to the fight against Helicoverpa. There are also some inappropriate uses of this pesticide in vegetable growing where study carried out jointly by ANCE and the Faculty of Agronomy of Lomé show that more than 20.000 market gardeners use this hazardous pesticide to treat their produce such as spinach (gboma), kerria (adémè), cabbage, carrots, lettuce, peppers, onions, tomatoes, cucumbers and beets. Endosulfan is a chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide and acaricide of the cyclodiene subgroup which acts as a poison to a wide variety of insects and mites on contact. Endosulfan presents several toxicological effects on human, animals and environment.

The proposed action promotes organic cotton growing in Togo. Organic cotton may significantly increase the farmers’ income. For organic cotton, the farmers receive a premium of 20 to 40% on actual cotton prices. Yields per hectare may only be lower during a limited conversion period which is 3 years. With this method, no pesticides or fertilizers are required, thus saving expenses. Reduction of the use of pesticides will have an important positive side-effect on the health and environment pollution situation. The toxic pesticides for cotton are sometimes used on food crops and food or drink contamination happens regularly.

For the cotton farmers in Togo, organic cotton has several advantages:

- For organic cotton, the farmers receive a premium of 20% on actual cotton prices. Given the growth in demand for organic cotton, this premium is likely to be stable at least. The project partner in Togo, ANCE, receives annually at least 10 request from international buyers (Europe, Canada and USA) wishing to purchase thousands of tons of organic cotton.

- The production of organic cotton does not require any financial inputs for chemical pesticides and fertilizer.

- Reduction of use of hazardous chemicals will reduce intoxications as well. In Togo, 327 cases of intoxications related to use of Endosulfan (pesticide used for cotton production) were registered in 2004.
 
The proposed action promotes organic cotton growing in Togo. The beneficiaries are cotton farmers in two production zones in Togo: Tchamba zone (3-4 villages involved) and Sotouboua zone (3-4 villages involved). In the two zones, around 12,000 farmer households produce cotton, of which 1,500 will be supported in growing organic cotton. The needs of the cotton farmers were identified during a recent pilot project with 315 farmers.

It is expected that 1,500 farmers trained and coached in organic cotton production. These farmers will achieve organic certification according to the EU regulation 2092/91 on organic agriculture and processing. Certified organic farms are inspected regularly and must maintain comprehensive records of their production methods. An Internal Control System will be established for facilitating external certification and for project management purposes. Conversion period will be 1 year for most farmers. Certified organic cotton will be for sale as of year 2.  The organic cotton, if possible ‘fair trade’ certified, will be contract ginned in Togo, and sold on the international market by ANCE with support. Once the project is established, local cotton traders in Togo are expected to become interested in organic cotton marketing, and will be invited to take over the initiative.

Finally it is expected that organic cotton producers are associated in a professional organization and able to mobilize technical, commercial and political support.