Project goals
1. Improvement of cotton growing, moving towards sustainable production
In most of the regions south of the Sahara, cotton is grown by small farmers. African smallholder farmers to not use artificial irrigation, which causes enormous environmental damage in other growing regions, e.g. in the rivers flowing into Lake Aral. The small farmers in Africa practice rain-field cultivation, i.e. the plants have to manage with the natural rainfall. In Africa the cotton fibres are grown in rotation with basic food crops. All of these are excellent conditions for moving towards sustainable cultivation, ensuring that future generations will also have a livelihood.
But inappropriate use of pesticides and fertilizers is harmful to human beings and the environment, and in some places endangers drinking water resources. Often the products are not used in a properly targeted manner, because no-one in the family is able to read, so the instructions on packs are not observed.
This is where Cotton made in Africa comes in - with specified targets for the percentage of children with primary school education, for the use of water, fertilizers and pesticides, and with access to markets that can ensure that farmers will be able to earn their living. These targets are designed to promote development towards sustainable cotton growing.
2. Enhancing the competitiveness of African cotton
Cotton "made in Africa" has relatively long fibres, and is picked by hand - it is a high quality material. If the social and environmental conditions of growing are improved, that also increases the attractiveness of this raw material, which is already of high quality. The know-how of the project partners makes it possible to optimise management practices right from the start of growing, and in the first stages of processing.
3. A new dimension of corporate responsibility
The textile sellers in Germany and elsewhere will also benefit. They will get a high-value product, which is still inexpensive, with the right quality not only in the raw material itself, but also in the process chain. The Cotton made in Africa project thus leads into new dimensions of business responsibility - responsibility for people and the environment along the whole of the value chain, accepting responsibility for the future. This corporate commitment can have a wide-ranging effect, and is increasingly required by stakeholders. It is highly appreciated by the customers, provided that the laws of the market are observed.
