Cotton farming is notorious for its heavy use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers, but organic cotton is becoming more widely available, thus helping to reduce the negative impacts of cotton farming on the producers and the environment. Organic cotton is now grown in over 22 countries although as yet it still accounts for a very small proportion of total cotton production.
Worldwide conventional cotton farming uses only about 2.5% of total farmland but consumes about 25% of the chemical insecticides used globally. These are not used in organic cotton production making a massive difference to the lives of the farmers and their families. Non organic cotton production can have serious health consequences with the 'World Trade Organisation attributing a significant proportion of the 20,000 deaths each year due to pesticide poisoning to the cotton industry. The cotton farmers also traditionally struggle with debt due to the cost of the chemicals.
Organic cotton farmers have, however, reported significant improvements to their lives. They are no longer in debt, allowing them to educate their children and pay for better health services, and their health is better.
Organic cotton products are fairly widely available now in the UK with many certified by organisations such as the Soil Association, who also ban the use of chemicals in the post-production of cotton. Products available include clothes, including baby clothes, bed linen and towels.
Source: www.soilassociation.org 2009
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