Better Cotton - MARI

Objectives:

MARI aims to work closely with small and marginal cotton farmers, farm workers, and the farm community to understand deep-rooted issues and develop sustainable solutions for a better farm community through the intervention of Better Cotton Principles & Criteria. Better Cotton has identified five impact targets to be achieved by 2030, which serve as primary objectives for every Better Cotton partner. These target areas include:

• Smallholder Livelihoods: Sustainably increase the net income and resilience of two million cotton farmers and workers.
• Soil Health: Ensure 100% of Better Cotton Farmers have improved the health of their soil.
• Women Empowerment: Reach one million women in cotton with programs and resources that promote equal farm decision-making, build climate resilience, or support improved livelihoods. Ensure that 25% of field staff are women with the power to influence sustainable cotton production.
• Pesticides: Reduce the use and risk of synthetic pesticides applied by Better Cotton Farmers and workers by at least 50%.
• Climate Change Mitigation: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% per ton of Better Cotton lint produced by the end of the decade.

Achievements:

• Operational Activity: The team, infrastructure, and project beneficiaries have been operationally active for about a year.
• Production Units: Four Production Units (PUs) have been established, each comprising 4,000 farmers. Village-level awareness programs, demonstration units, and training sessions have been completed, resulting in a strong presence and recognition among the farm community.
• Partnerships and Collaborations: The Better Cotton project in Andhra Pradesh has developed strong relationships with the Department of Handlooms & Textiles – Government of Andhra Pradesh, AP Textiles Cotton Association, and other value chain partners. These relationships will aid in scaling the project and converging with government schemes.
• Technical Support: MARI has established technical collaborations with the Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS) and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVKs) to support the team and farmers across all four PUs.

This comprehensive approach ensures the sustainable development of the cotton farming community, aligning with Better Cotton’s impact targets and promoting overall agricultural and social well-being.

Project Outreach: 

• 16000 cotton farmers with about 25% women farmers
• 24000 farm workers with about 75% female workers
• 60000 acres
• 4 mandals
• 86 villages
• 95% dry land farmers
• 1 State – Andhra Pradesh

Team:

• Total 46 Field Facilitators across 4 PUs
• 22 Male FFs and 24 Female FFs
• 12 Core Team Members from Kurnool (Kodumur PU, Devanakonda PU) & Guntur cluster (Tadikonda PU, Amaravathi PU)
• 4 Male and 8 Female in core team.
• 1 Project Director: Sandeep loya