CTA
Small fontsize
Medium fontsize
Big fontsize
English |
Switch to English
Français
Switch to French
Filter by Agriculture topics
Commodities
Regions
Publication Type
Filter by date

Analysis of developments in the organic cotton market

06 October 2011

A report from Dublin-based analysts Research and Markets maintains that despite the global recession in 2009, the ‘market for organic cotton continued to rise in the period 2005-2009.’ However, organic cotton still represents only 1.1% of total global production. South-East Asia remains the largest producer of organic cotton, with India accounting for 80% of organic cotton production. Syria, Turkey, China and the US are other major organic cotton producers.

Growth in demand for organic cotton is being driven by ‘growing consumer interest in green products’ and a ‘significant expansion of existing organic cotton programs by brands and retailers’. However, the report argued that ‘global organic cotton production is likely to slow down in 2011 because of slowed production in India.’ From 2011-12, however, ‘global organic cotton production is likely to pick up momentum’, with Tanzania among the countries expanding its organic cotton production. 

Editorial comment

Africa is not a major source of organic cotton production, however in addition to efforts to expand organic cotton production in Tanzania (see Agritrade article, ‘ Improving the functioning of the supply chain seen as key to Tanzanian c...’, March 2011), donor-supported initiatives are also in progress to stimulate both organic and fair-trade cotton production in West and Central Africa (see Agritrade article, ‘ Fair-trade cotton to boost cotton production in West and Central Africa’, July 2011).

Given the growing retailer demand for organic cotton, considerable scope exists for African cotton producers to target this market. However, for these opportunities to be realised many of the issues raised in the 2010 Africa Trade Policy Centre report on Africa’s organic potential will need to be addressed. These include the need for the establishment of ‘clear policies on organic agriculture’, focusing on small-scale producers, including introducing legal changes, supporting export logistics management, strengthening organic farmers’ associations and establishing ‘local, transparent certification and inspection capacities’. It was recommended that a clear policy should be developed in close consultation with stakeholders through national organic agriculture committees. These were intended to bring together government and stakeholders, in order to provide policy guidance, including on production adjustment support measures for farmers (See Agritrade article ‘ Report highlights potential for developing organic market in African cou...’, January 2011).

Comment

Terms and conditions