Pakistan Meet Eido, a farmer residing in Sefid Tehsil in the Kohlu District, in Pakistan. Eidu has dedicated the last 15 years to cotton farming, cultivating this crop on his 5 acres of land. Despite coming from a difficult financial background, he was able to successfully transition from conventional to organic cotton farming, showcasing a strong commitment to more organic agriculture.
Eido was encouraged and guided in his three-year-long transition to organic cotton farming by OCA’s Implementing Partner, Artistic Milliners in Pakistan. Our Farm Programme’s field trainers worked closely with Eido, fostering a strong partnership that allowed him to openly discuss and address his cotton farming challenges.
Demonstrating a strong proactive approach, Eido actively participates in farmer training sessions organised by our Implementing Partner while frequently engaging in stimulating discussions with field experts, ensuring the continuous improvement of his organic practices. This involvement not only reflects his dedication to organic farming practices but also makes his cotton fields thrive.
In 2022 season, Eido learned how to distinguish between beneficial and harmful insects affecting his cotton crop. Thanks to the programme’s informative sessions on cotton pest scouting, accurate pest identification, and practical demonstrations, Eido can now proficiently identify cotton pests.
I was harming my crop by trying to get rid of pests without knowing what they were. My cotton wasn’t very profitable because the costs of pest control were too high, and I wasn’t making enough to cover them. Now that I’ve finally learned how to identify pests, both my yield and profit are substantially improving!
The field trainers introduced Eido to effective pest control methods, specifically targeting leaf hoppers and white flies that were causing issues in his cotton crops. Following the trainers’ advice, Eido proceeded to apply another round of spraying after 8 days. Pleased with the results, he started sharing these successful organic-based practices with his fellow farmers.
Thank you, OCA’s Farmer programme, for helping me switch to organic cotton farming journey and finally getting rid of harmful synthetic pesticides!
Supporting local farmers every etep of the way
Eido’s commitment to organic farming and his willingness to learn and collaborate serve as a example of the positive impact our programmes are fostering. In our ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable and prosperous cotton cultivation community for all, we will continue to support individuals like Eido. Explore their inspiring stories!
Conventional cotton production drives biodiversity loss, soil degradation, water waste, chemical pollution, and threatens the livelihoods and health of farming communities and their lands. While organic cotton farming doesn’t lack challenges, OCA has always been about creating the conditions for organic cotton to thrive – by putting farmers first. Join OCA to support our mission of improving farmer livelihoods by providing them with essential training, support, and access to organic pest control and other vital resources for organic farming. Let’s unleash the potential of organic cotton together!
