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environment it grows in and better for the sector’s
future. Throughout the years BCI has made farm size that is above 200 hectares of cotton and is
dependent on permanent hired labor.
Reports Australia, Brazil, China, India, USA, Turkey, South Countries that are producing Better Cotton include
significant progress. In 2016-17 cotton season,
Better Cotton was grown in 21 countries including
Global Reach Figures
Africa, Pakistan and several others by 1.3 million
China with 51,746 BCI Farmers cultivating 401,000
licensed BCI Farmers and accounted for 14% of
hectares of cotton area and producing 932,000
global production. By 2020, BCI goal is to train 5
metric tonnes of cotton lint, India with 303,886 BCI
million farmers worldwide on more sustainable
Farmers cultivating 501,000 hectares of cotton area
agricultural practices and ensure that Better Cotton
accounts for 30% of global cotton production.
Israel with 84 BCI Farmers cultivating 8000 hectares
of cotton area and producing 14000 metric tonnes of
Pakistani Cotton Community and producing 325,000 metric tonnes of cotton lint,
In Pakistan, cotton is the most widely cultivated cotton lint, Pakistan with 90,441 BCI Farmers
crop and is an important raw material for the cultivating 359,000 hectares of cotton area and
growing textiles industry, representing 8.5% of GDP. producing 316,000 metric tonnes of cotton lint,
As the cotton farmers contend with the effects of South Africa with 553 BCI Farmers cultivating 7000 • In December, representatives of 11 leading Retailer
extreme weather and pest outbreaks damaging the hectares of cotton area and producing 4000 metric Better Cotton Uptake by Retailer and Brand and Brand Members and experts from multiple
tonnes of cotton lint, Turkey with 342 BCI Farmers
Better Cotton Initiative depends on men and women playing an equal role in cultivating 16,000 hectares of cotton area and In 2017, 85 retailers and brands sourced 736,000 mainstream approach to sustainability and how we
crops, the future of Pakistan’s cotton production
Members
disciplines were brought together to discuss BCI’s
producing 30,000 metric tonnes of cotton lint, USA
climate change and promoting sustainable
metric tonnes as Better Cotton against a target of
collectively envision the evolution of BCI’s
with 121 BCI Farmers cultivating 85,000 hectares of
farming practices.
1,000,000 metric tonnes as compared to the 461,000
measurement and reporting.
cotton area and producing 109,000 metric tonnes of
worldwide transformation to sustainable cotton Global Harvest Report 2016-17 Mr. Anees Khuajwa Director Mehmood Group Speaking at the Panel cotton lint, Kazakhstan with 43 BCI Farmers metric tonnes of Better Cotton sourced in 2016. • Measuring and evaluating the systems and data
During the duration under review, spinners sourced
that enables BCI to continuously improve and to
cultivating 2000 hectares of cotton area and
The BCI 2016-17 Global Harvest Report is an
1,240,000 metric tonnes as Better Cotton.
better support farmers. Improved farming practices
producing 1000 metric tonnes of cotton lint,
overview of BCI’s engagement worldwide including
the global and country level figures which discussion on “Material Innovation” Madagascar with 2,106 BCI Farmers cultivating 7000 Results and Impact will lead to positive results and impacts for farmers,
farm workers, and communities, as well as for the
demonstrate BCI’s reach. In 2016-17 cotton season, Consequently, the total number of licensed BCI hectares of cotton area and producing 1000 metric Being a data driven organization, BCI collects and sector as a whole.
Better Cotton was grown in 21 countries by 1.3 Farmers decreased compared to the previous year; tonnes of cotton lint, Mozambique with 68,599 BCI reports on farm level results. As engagement in more
million licensed BCI Farmers and accounted for 14% however, the vast majority of these farmers have malpractices and license cancellations. Similarly, Farmers cultivating 59,000 hectares of cotton area sustainable cotton production continues to grow, Growing Demand
of global cotton production. Through partnerships, continued participating in the BCI Programme, during the same period under review, in 2016-17, the and producing 9,000 metric tonnes of cotton lint and BCI is innovating and evolving its systems and The results of 2017 signify that BCI is closer to
BCI trained an additional 300,000 cotton farmers in receiving training and support. They are eligible to area under Better Cotton cultivation has been Tajikistan with 1,051 BCI Farmers cultivating 13,000 approaches to capture new data opportunities. reaching its 2020 goal. Better Cotton accounting for
two additional countries and these farmers are well apply for new licenses again the following year and recorded at a decline of 3,309,000 hectares as hectares of cotton area and producing 13,000 metric 30% of global cotton production – and Members
on their journey to becoming licensed farmers. will receive a mandatory external assessment before compared to the preceding year in 2015-16, when it tonnes of cotton lint. In 2017 BCI invested in building, developing and contributed significantly to this progress.
being re-licensed. was recorded at 3,491,263 hectares. However, evaluating its systems: Membership grew by 21% to 1,197 Members with 17
In both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, BCI’s despite the decrease in number of farmers and the The BCI Benchmarked countries include Australia • BCI continued to develop its information new Retailer and Brand Members and 193 new
Implementing and Strategic Partners trained 1.6 Despite fewer farmers earning licenses, the volume area cultivated, Better Cotton Production in 2016-17 with 76 BCI Farmers cultivating 62,000 hectares of management capabilities, powered by the Supplier and Manufacturer Members.
million cotton farmers on more sustainable of Better Cotton increased globally. This is due to a has been recorded at 3,262,000 metric tonnes cotton area and producing 138,000 metric tonnes of Chainpoint platform. As a result, producers in the
agricultural practices. For the 2016-17 season, number of high-yielding, large farm producers in compared to last year’s 2,504,613 metric tonnes. cotton lint, Brazil with 195 BCI Farmers cultivating Large Farm category are now able to report their This year 736,000 metric tonnes of Better Cotton
however, a lower percentage of Producer Units – countries like the USA joining the BCI Programme. 607,000 hectares of cotton area and producing results online.
groupings of BCI Farmers in the same community or Production of Better Cotton by Farm Size 1,050,000 metric tonnes of cotton lint and CMiA/SCS • To enable Retailer and Brand Members to claimed by retailers and brands which is a 60%
region – were licensed to sell Better Cotton under the Better Cotton Production In 2016-17 cotton season, the Better Cotton with 780,000 BCI Farmers cultivating 1,182,000 effectively communicate their Better Cotton sourcing increase on 2016 and 1.2 million metric tonnes
Better Cotton Standard System. BCI Farmers, cotton cultivation area and Better production in smallholder farms has been recorded hectares of cotton area and producing 320,000 achievements BCI conducted research into new sourced by spinners. 42 of 85 Retailer and Brand
Cotton production over the years has seen drastic at 1,295,814 metric tonnes, which is 31% of the metric tonnes of cotton lint. farm-level results indicators and results reporting Members communicated public, time bound
BCI’s Assurance Programme uses a combination of growth. In the beginning in 2010-11 cotton season, Better Cotton produced. A smallholder farm is a farm Membership Growth by Category methodologies to measure the farm level commitments to source 100% of their cotton more
internal and external assessment to verify that the total number of BCI Farmers, cotton cultivation size that does not exceed 20 hectares of cotton and BCI Cotton in 2010 began with a small number of 48 sustainability improvements. sustainably, helping to close the gap between cotton
is not dependent on permanent hired labor.
producers remain compliant with all Minimum area and Better Cotton production was recorded at members including suppliers and manufacturers, • BCI also participated in independent research supply and demand.
Requirements for licensing. Under the Assurance 28,368 farmers, 94,542 hectares and 73,647 metric During the period under review, the medium farms associate members, civil society, producer efforts commissioned by the C&A Foundation –
Programme in 2016-2017, licenses were denied or tonnes production. have produced 2,981 metric tonnes of Better Cotton organizations and retailers. With the number of complementary environmental life cycle and As BCI membership increased, so did the volume of
cancelled for a number of reasons, including which is 4%. A medium farm is a farm size that is passing years, BCI Cotton membership has seen a socio-economic assessments in Madhya Pradesh, Better Cotton Platform (BCP) users, who now span
Dr. Shafiq Ahmed (Country Manager Pakistan) sharing success story of A Pakistani female farmer non-compliance with Minimum Requirements on The highest recorded figures for the above between 20 to 200 hectares of cotton and is significant growth from 989 members in 2016 which India; and ISEAL’s Demonstrating and Improving the entire cotton supply chain, from ginners and
mentioned categories was in 2015-16. In 2016-17
pesticide application and producers not submitting dependent on permanent hired labors. Meanwhile, further increased in 2017 with a total of 1197 Poverty Impacts project as well as a case study in spinners to traders, retailers and brands. By the end
The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) is transforming Cotton as a sustainable mainstream commodity. It is accurate farm-level results data. The most notable cotton season, compared to preceding years Better Cotton in 2016-17 cotton season produced by members. Supplier and manufacturers have shown Gujarat, India, to examine progress in phasing out a of 2017, there were 3,640 BCP user accounts, a 48%
cotton production worldwide by developing Better making cotton production better for producers, the reductions in licenses came from India and Mali. 1,528,537 BCI Farmers, the total number of BCI large size farms has been recorded at 448 which is the most interest and are the major percentage in hazardous pesticide and the role of BCI’s increase on 2016, which helped to drive the uptake
Farmers decreased to 1,299,243 BCI Farmers due to
65% of Better Cotton produced. A large farm is a membership growth. Implementing Partners. of Better Cotton.

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