The largest cotton sustainability effort in the world, Better Cotton, has announced the launch of a new program in Cote d’Ivoire and pledged to assist 200,000 local cotton farmers during the program’s first five years.
According to a news release from Better Cotton, the new field-level program will provide resources and training to agricultural communities all around the nation as a first step toward assisting them in producing more sustainably farmed cotton.
As Better Cotton’s strategic partner for Cote d’Ivoire, the Professional Association of Cotton Companies of Cote d’Ivoire (APROCOT-CI) will manage initiatives to enhance the economic prospects and climatic resilience of farming communities.
With CIDT, Ivoire Coton, Global Cotton SA, CO.I.C-SA, SICOSA 2.0, and Seco SA as its six member organizations, APROCOT-CI protects the interests of cotton companies throughout the nation, from farms to gins. These organizations will work with the Better Cotton initiative as partners, giving cotton communities resources and training to support social and environmental improvements.
A declaration of interest detailing national interest in initiating a Better Cotton program was submitted by APROCOT-CI to Better Cotton last year. In order to gauge the potential impact before launching a program, Better Cotton organized a multistakeholder gathering in Abidjan in March of this year.
In order to help smallholder farmers in Africa reduce their carbon footprint and embrace sustainable agriculture practices that prioritize ongoing improvement, Better Cotton is dedicated to expanding its footprint throughout the continent. Better Cotton is positioned strategically to fulfill growing demand with a membership network that extends from farm to store and brand level.
According to the President of APROCOT-CI, Jean François Toure, the partnership underscores our organization’s shared commitment to creating a positive impact in the cotton industry, primarily focusing on improving the livelihoods of smallholder cotton farmers”.
“By integrating Better Cotton’s sustainable farming practices and APROCOT-CI’s local expertise, we aim to enhance cotton yields, reduce environmental impact, and improve social and economic outcomes for farmers in the region”.
“Starting a new program in Cote d’Ivoire is a thrilling move for Better Cotton as it expands its footprint throughout the continent. In order for local cotton farmers to benefit from more sustainable cotton production on both an environmental and financial level, our relationship with APROCOT-CI will be essential to the way we carry out our work in the nation. Alan McClay, CEO of Better Cotton, stated, “We are appreciative of APROCOT-CI’s backing and the dedication they have demonstrated to our cause.
Better Cotton Initiative is a non-profit, multistakeholder governance group that aims to promote better standards in cotton farming with operations in over 21 countries. In 2017, 14% of the world’s cotton production was accounted for by Better Cotton. During the 2016–2017 cotton season, 3.3 million metric tonnes of Better Cotton lint were generated by 1.3 million licensed BCI Farmers, making it possible for a record amount of more sustainably produced cotton to join the global supply chain.