Descriptions
The synthetic fiber and fabric industries are among the most polluting in the world, posing a significant risk to both human health and the environment. There is a growing movement towards the shift to natural fibre and organic clothes, which offers benefits for the people and the planet. However, growing natural fibres like cotton, silk, banana, agave, calotropis, kapok, and several tree-based fibres sustainably and economically viable remains a challenge for smallholder farmers.
Cotton is not merely a textile crop but the lifeblood of countless farmers and a cornerstone of India's agrarian landscape. As one of the world's largest cotton producers, India has long relied on this crop for its economic sustenance. However, conventional cotton farming, driven by intensive chemical pesticide and fertilizer use, has left behind a trail of ecological degradation, soil depletion, and adverse health effects for those engaged in its cultivation. Recognizing the need for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach, the concept of organically grown cotton is gaining prominence, offering a promising alternative for India's cotton farming sector.
Odisha, an eastern state of India, has gained a focus on sustainable and organic cotton farming practices. Organic cotton production is estimated to constitute a small yet growing percentage of the total cotton produced in Odisha. According to the Ministry of Textiles (Ministry of Textile, Government of India), the total cotton area in Odisha was 170,000 hectares in 2019-20, which increased to 216,000 hectares in 2022-23. The state has also witnessed an almost fivefold rise in organic cotton output from 23034.4 million tonnes in 2017-18 to 106495.89 million tonnes in 2020-21. In Balangir, a district within Odisha, the cotton cultivation area was recorded at 43,960 hectares in 2018-19.
CIFOR-ICRAF is introducing a unique 'cotton agroforestry model' with a multifunctional system approach that integrates cotton farming with multipurpose trees and other leguminous perennial and short-duration vegetables through this project. This approach represents a sustainable, environmentally friendly method of cotton farming that enhances both economic viability and ecological sustainability. The project aims to implement this model in the Balangir district of Odisha, focusing on the Belpada, Muribahal, and Saintala blocks. The key objectives are to improve the livelihoods of small-scale cotton farmers by increasing crop yields, reducing input costs, enhancing economic returns, improving soil fertility, conserving natural resources, and restoring fragmented ecological corridors in collaboration with local conservation organizations and communities.
The project is built on four pillars of sustainable agroforestry: economic viability, ecological sustainability, ecological corridor restoration, and farmer empowerment. Through this initiative, CIFOR-ICRAF seeks to create a resilient and sustainable cotton farming model that benefits both farmers and the environment.
