BCI Reveals 2010 Harvest Results and 2011 Plans

The highlight of 2010 was definitely the first-ever harvest of Better Cotton. We are very proud that Better Cotton has been harvested in India, Pakistan and Mali. For the start-up phase in 2010/12, the BCI is focusing on four regions: the three mentioned above plus Brazil, where the first harvest is expected in May 2011.

While the harvest is still going on in some parts of India and Mali, and Better Cotton is expected in Brazil in May 2011, we are already busy with the next steps. The first months of the year are focused on learning from Year One of implementation, and further refining the system. We are also collecting result indicators that will tell us if there is any measurable positive change in the field as a result of growing Better Cotton.

This year, we also want to work with our members to successfully move Better Cotton closer towards becoming a mainstream commodity. This includes greater effort to make the supply chain for Better Cotton work better, expand some of our existing projects, develop new projects and explore new production regions. We’re expecting to work with around 150,000 farmers in our focus regions (Brazil, India, Pakistan, West and Central Africa) next season–a significant increase from last year’s 68,000. We are also preparing to work with China for the 2012 season and responding to the interest expressed from different organisations in growing Better Cotton in other countries and regions, such as Central Asia, Southern and Eastern Africa, Turkey and the United States.