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What is organic cotton?
Most people are horrified to discover that conventional
cotton production involves the extensive and damaging
use of soil fumigants, synthetic fertilisers, highly
toxic pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and defoliants,
all of which can lead to a multiple of health and
environmental problems. By contrast, organic cotton
is grown without the use of synthetic fertilisers,
growth regulators, chemical pesticides, irrigation
or genetic engineering.
About Conventional Cotton
A common misconception about cotton
is that because it is a natural product, it must be
environmentally friendly. In actual fact, conventional
cotton farming is one of the most environmentally
damaging activities in the world. The main reason
for this is because of the dangerous chemical pesticides
and fertilisers used on the crops to prevent pests
and assist growth.
Some facts and figures:
- Conventional cotton farming uses
only about 3% of total farmland but consumes 25%
of the chemical pesticides and fertilisers used
globally
- According to WHO estimates, at least
20,000 deaths and 1 million long-term acute poisonings
are caused by pesticides each year
- A typical conventional cotton t-shirt
uses about 150 grams of acutely toxic pesticides
and insecticides
- Cotton pesticides can enter the food
chain through processed foods that contain cotton
seed oil, and also through meat and dairy products
as cows are often fed cottonseed meal and graze
on contaminated land.
- Exposure to pesticide and fertilisers
directly causes illnesses and diseases
- Many chemicals used in cotton production
are carcinogens
- Chemicals used in conventional cotton
farming contaminate the water table
- Conventional cotton farming
damages and disrupts the natural biodiversity of
an area, often irreversibly.
How is it grown?
Before organic cotton can be planted, the soil must
be free of toxic chemicals for at least three years.
Organic cotton farmers do not use artificial pesticides
or herbicides for pest control and instead of chemical
fertilisers a variety of natural growth stimulators
are utilised. Natural pest predators like birds, bees
and ladybirds, as well as beneficial bugs and viruses,
will be encouraged by the farmer to protect his crops
from attack, and soil quality is maintained by crop
rotation. Instead of chemically feeding the plants,
the organic farmer will also apply nitrogen-rich manure
and plant nitrogen-fixing cover crops.
What makes organic cotton farming better?
Organic farming ultimately leads to long term and
sustainable prevention, which as everyone knows, is
better than a quick-fix cure. It does this, and benefits
farmers and their communities, in the following ways:
Reduces Debt
Ordinary cotton farmers are forced to buy expensive
chemical pesticides, but organic pest controls are
much cheaper and will eventually manage themselves.
Organic farmers’ revenues are also much higher,
making agriculture a viable way of earning a living.
Reduces Pollution
Chemical pesticides and fertilisers are extremely
poisonous and make their way into the water table,
affecting the lives of farmers and their families
by causing diseases and death. They also augment the
pest problem, because pests will eventually become
immune to pesticides used and so the farmer has to
resort to more poisonous and dangerous pesticides
to achieve the same result. In an organic cotton field,
a biologically diverse and natural eco-system is maintained
which means that there are no chemicals for the pests
to become immune to, and therefore no dangerous chemicals
have to be used.
More Economical
Ordinary cotton farming methods strip the soil of
any nutrients which means that after a few years the
land becomes so polluted that it becomes unusable,
but organic farmers use natural fertilisers and rotate
their crops, which does not dry up the soil and ensures
that the soil remains fertile year after year.
Increases Biodiversity
Organic farmers will introduce beneficial bugs, viruses
and natural pest predators to their fields and establish
a biologically diverse eco-system.
GM Free
Organic cotton has an open supply chain, meaning that
it can be traced back to the field it was grown in.
This close monitoring means that we can be sure that
organic cotton is also GM free.
Is organic cotton any different from conventional
cotton?
To get the best overall price, ordinary cotton is
usually made up of a mixture of high and low grade
cotton. This mixed cotton is usually of average quality.
Organic cotton, on the other hand, must be traced
from field to store and cannot be mixed with other
cottons, so this means that it is better quality and
wears and washes much better than ordinary cotton.
Organic cotton is also much less likely to itch and
irritate your skin, because the cotton has not been
treated with any skin irritants like pesticides.
Is organic cotton more expensive than ordinary
cotton?
The processes involved in obtaining organic cotton
and ensuring that the cotton obtained is wholly organic
are complicated, and because of this the price is
slightly higher. But we think, and we hope you agree,
that this slight increase in price is worth it when
you consider all the benefits involved in buying organic
Our Fairly Traded Promise to
you
What about local employment
issues?
Okarma’s close relationships with farmers, ginners
(who separate the organic cotton fibre from the seed),
spinners and factory owners ensures that the brand’s
ethical employment standards are met at every level.
This includes ensuring that all workers
involved in the various stages of production from
field to factory are provided with decent wages and
fair employment conditions. Okarma follows the guidelines
set out in the Ethical Trading Initiative Labour Standards
Code which recommends that:
• Employment is freely chosen
• Freedom of association and the right to collective
bargaining are respected
• Working conditions are safe and hygienic
• Child labour is not used
• Living wages are paid
• Working hours are not excessive
• One day off is provided every week
• No discrimination is practised
• Regular employment is provided
• No harsh or inhumane treatment is allowed
Okarma supports the Moral
Fibre Campaign
Every year tens of thousands of farmers and their
families are killed by pesticides, especially by cotton
pesticides. Many, many more are made seriously ill
or use pesticides to commit suicide because of the
economic problems in cotton production. Okarma fully
supports the moral fibre campaign to achieve 10% of
all cotton production to be organic by 2010.
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