BioCottonOrganic Cotton Production and Trade Promotion ProjectThe Biocotton Project aims to promote organic farming in Central Asia, and trade of organic cotton and other organic products on the international and domestic markets, allowing interested farmers to make their living.
BackgroundOnly a decade ago cotton production was one of the most significant sources of GDP for Osh and Jalalabat oblasts in the south of Kyrgyzstan. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992 the area used for cotton production fell by over 70% due mainly to economic reasons. Living standards and the level of employment have dropped accordingly. As certified organic cotton products are usually marketed through special channels and fetch higher prices, production of organic cotton is seen as one of the ways of improving living standards in the south. Population Needs OrientationCotton production involves the intensive use of toxic insecticides and pesticides harmful to the environment and health. The idea of organic agriculture rests on balancing economic profit and safety of the natural environment. The experience of Helvetas and other organizations in organic cotton production in Mali, India, Tanzania, and other countries shows that switching to organic farming can contribute, both to an improvement in market conditions in the region and the solution of serious health and environmental problems. Project StructureThe BioCotton Project was set up in 2003 and is based in Jalalabat. The project is guided by a Steering Board, which comprises representatives from farmers engaged in organic cotton production, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Fuel Resources, Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry, the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Switzerland, the Humanist Institute for Co-operation with Developing Countries (Hivos Netherlands), Helvetas, Swiss Association for International Cooperation and the Swiss trading partner Reinhart. ApproachThe BioCotton Project focuses mainly on developing a permanent value chain of organic products in the Fergana valley in the south of the country. The BioCotton Project promotes and uses the main principals of organic agriculture:
Organic agriculture renounces:
Project milestones:Phase I 2003 - Project started its activities with awareness raising, capacity building and agronomic & market research. 2004 - 38 pioneer farmers produce according to organic guidelines. 2006 - 95 tons of organic cotton in conversion are produced; the first 6 tons of certified organic cotton fiber are exported to the European Market. Phase II 2007 - 700 farmers produced 130 tons of conversion cotton and exported 30 tons of certified organic cotton to Europe. 2008 - 2 local organizations Bio Service Public Foundation and Bio Farmers' Public Union for the promotion of organic production in Kyrgyzstan are registered and a logo and brand for organic production are developed. During the Phase II the Project will focus on supporting the 2 newly established local organizations. Bio Service Public Foundation as a professional service provider takes over most of the support functions of BioCotton project, like Internal control system (ICS )and Organic certification to guarantee quality to third partners (buyers, consumers), marketing and trade of organic cotton. The Bio Farmers' Cooperative together with main functions of representing farmers' interests, will also have responsibilities for consulting/training to farmers, organising production, processing and export of cotton and other production support to the members, and the Fairtrade certification. Thus promoting organic production in Kyrgyzstan and exploring the internal and international markets for Kyrgyz bio products to establish value chains for rotation crops like wheat, medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), beans, peanuts, chick peas and vegetables. Counterparts and PartnersThe BioCotton Project has established partnerships at local, national and international levels. At oblast level, the project closely collaborates with service providers like the bio laboratory, a ginnery and seed farms. At national level the main counterparts are the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Fuel Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industries. On the international level the project closely collaborates with its trading partner Reinhart from Switzerland, the German textile company Elmertex and the Indian certification agency Indocert. The BioCotton Project in brief:
How to contact us:
Helvetas Programme Office: BioCotton
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