It is estimated that the industry provides direct livelihood to six million farmers, with an additional 40–50 million people employed in cotton trade and processing
For many years, India’s agriculture sector has played a central role in the nation’s development. Contributing 18.3 percent to the national GDP and employing nearly 148 million people in 2023, the sector plays a crucial role in enriching the country’s economic landscape and supporting food security and rural livelihoods.
Among the many crops cultivated in India, cotton stands out as a crucial component of the farming ecosystem. As the world’s second-largest cotton producer, India’s cotton industry is key to both the national and global textile supply chains. India’s Ministry of Textiles estimates that the industry provides direct livelihood to 6 million farmers, with an additional 40–50 million people employed in cotton trade and processing.
The industry has nevertheless faced significant challenges in recent years, including fluctuating yields, persistent pest infestations, and excessive chemical utilisation, which has degraded soil quality and contributed to environmental pollution.
In this context, sustainable agricultural practises are an increasingly imperative necessity to ensure the welfare of both farmers and the environment and natural resources we all depend on. Sustainable cotton farming practises help ensure that farms remain productive for the long term, empowering cotton farmers to earn more stable incomes and preserving livelihoods for future generations.
Sustainable farming challenges
India’s cotton industry faces several challenges in its efforts to develop sustainable farming:
• Lack of awareness: Most cotton farmers rely on traditional, resource-intensive farming methods that are often unsustainable. Convincing them to adopt new, sustainable practises can be challenging due to deep-rooted traditions and a lack of awareness.
• Limited access to technology: Smallholder farmers, who constitute a significant portion of the cotton and agricultural workforce in India, often lack access to modern agricultural technologies, such as precision farming tools and climate-resilient crop varieties. The technology divide hinders the adoption of sustainable practises.
• Financial constraints: Shifting to sustainable cotton farming practises often requires an initial investment to improve infrastructure, access technology, and develop training. Limited access to affordable credit can be a significant barrier for smallholder farmers looking to transition to sustainable practises.
• Dependency on chemical pesticides: Traditional cotton farming relies heavily on chemical pesticides, which can have several adverse impacts. Transitioning to organic or integrated pest management practises requires training, investment, and a change in mindset.
Embracing sustainability
The foundational step towards more sustainable cotton farming is giving farmers access to knowledge, in particular a deep understanding of soil health, including soil testing to determine nutrient levels and crop rotation techniques which enhance soil fertility and reduce the risk of pests and diseases.
Educating farmers on integrated pest management (IPM) techniques and conservation practises contributes to minimising the use of harmful pesticides, thereby protecting soils from erosion and degradation.
For this reason, Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) launched Project Jagruthi in 2022 to train and support over 7,500 farmers from over 30 villages across India’s key cotton-growing states. LDC worked with them to raise awareness of various threats to cotton crops, such as pink boll worm and white fly infestations, while teaching sustainable techniques and control measures to reduce cultivation costs.
Through such avenues, farmers are empowered with the knowledge and skills required to improve their crop yields and the quality of their cotton produce, and ultimately increase their income. While this helps to foster a sense of self-reliance and resilience among farmers, it also drives understanding of the importance of sustainable agriculture.
By imparting knowledge on eco-friendly cultivation methods, resource conservation, and reduced reliance on chemical inputs, Project Jagruthi helps farmers become advocates for sustainable farming.
Such initiatives require close collaboration among various stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and the private sector, to introduce the right policy frameworks and regulations that facilitate the transition and encourage farmers through programmes providing financial incentives and support.
After driving adoption of sustainable practises, it is also important to establish certification programmes that encourage farmers to make responsible purchases and reward them for their efforts in producing sustainable products, as certification can give farmers access to higher income from premium certified produce.
For instance, LDC introduced its global Responsible Sourcing Programme in 2022, which has been instrumental in certifying and verifying over 300 coffee farmers in India who are responsible for approximately 4,000 metric tons of coffee. These farmers were assessed based on the ethics and sustainability standards, principles, and provisions enshrined in LDC’s Global Code of Conduct for Coffee Suppliers.
Such certification programmes promote a holistic approach to sustainability by rewarding farmers for their dedication to responsible agricultural practises while simultaneously assuring customers and consumers of the integrity and ethical standards behind the products they choose.
Forging a greener tomorrow involves a collective and concerted effort from all agricultural supply chain stakeholders, and LDC is committed to doing its part to promote sustainable farming, with a focus on empowering farming communities to produce more sustainably.
By supporting sustainable practises through responsible sourcing decisions, individuals and businesses can contribute to more environmentally and socially responsible food, beverage, and textile industries, ultimately helping to shape a fair and sustainable future.
(Sumeet Mittal is Country CEO for India at Louis Dreyfus Company.)