The International Labour Organization (ILO) has partnered with the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) on a project that would work with cotton farmers in creating more awareness about Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW).
- The project, which would focus on small and marginal farmers and workers, will address their vulnerabilities and ensure better institutional support mechanisms for the cotton growing community.
- The activities of the project, to start with, will focus on five districts of Madhya Pradesh, which is a major cotton growing state for both organic and ELS cotton.
- This collaboration is aimed at facilitating knowledge sharing and providing technical support to implement policies and programmes related to FPRW, enhance access and utilisation of social protection schemes/programmes, and empower vulnerable families engaged in cotton cultivation.
- CITI works in the cotton sector in India through the Cotton Development and Research Association (CDRA). At present CITI-CDRA is operational in the states of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and is also an important extension partner in the Pilot Project on Cotton, which is a joint effort of Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Textiles meant to enhance cotton yields through improved agronomics practices and technological interventions.
THE CONTEXT: India is the second largest producer and consumer of cotton in the world. Currently, cotton is primarily grown in 11 states across the country by about 6.5 million farmers, and is the predominant feedstock for the Indian textiles industry.
- The average land holding size of cotton cultivators in India is about 1.26 hectare.
- Besides regular farmers, of whom about 40% are women, a large number of migrant labourers are also engaged as farmers with leased land for cotton cultivation.
WHAT THEY SAID:
For last 54 years, CITI through its extension arm—CDRA—has been working for improving yield and quality of cotton by creating awareness on the best agronomics practices as also equipping farmers with the latest technologies on production, plant protection and nutrient management. Throughout its journey, CITI-CDRA has been able to positively impact cotton productivity, farmer income, soil health and better market linkage.
— T Rajkumar
Chairman, Standing Committee on Cotton
Confederation of Indian Textile Industry
CITI-CDRA recognises that training on rights of farmers, better access to finance, better communication, agronomic practices are an integral part of training of farmers, and hence entered into collaboration with ILO for the holistic development of the cotton growing community.
— Rakesh Mehra
Chairman
Confederation of Indian Textile Industry
