Better Cotton Initiative makes Arvind Ltd a soybean exporter

Company supplied 3,000 metric tonnes of soybean to European countries, North America in 2012-13

What began as a contract farming for producing sustainable organic cotton under the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) for Ahmedabad-based textile conglomerate Arvind Limited, has resulted in Arvind Limited exporting about 3,000 metric tonnes of soybean.

Thanks to sustainable rotational crops emerging out of its contract farming in Akola (Maharashtra) and Nizar (Gujarat), Arvind Limited, which is more known for its fabric, denim and apparel exports, supplied sustainable soybean to European countries and North America in 2012-13.

What's more, the company is also in the process of identifying markets for sustainable rotational crops like green grams, black gram, pigeon pea, chick peas, sunflower, safflower, sesame, turmeric, chillies, ginger, and ajwain (bishop's weed) to European countries and North America.

"Though we have been engaging with farmers in these regions in contract farming for sustainable cotton, we can't force them to stick to a single crop. As per the BCI standards, everything that these farmers produce should be sustainable. So while we were engaging with them for sustainable cotton, there were other sustainable crops that emerged such as soybean which we supplied last year to the feed industry in European countries and North America," said Mahesh Ramakrishnan, head - agri business division at Arvind Limited while refusing to divulge exact value of the exports.

BCI was registered as a not for profit organization in Geneva, Switzerland about 7 years ago. It is a multi stakeholder initiative which comprises of the brands, retailers, manufacturer and suppliers, civil society, farmer organisation, and financial institutions. BCI was registered as a not for profit organization in Geneva, Switzerland about 7 years ago. It is a multi stakeholder initiative which comprises of the brands, retailers, manufacturer and suppliers, civil society, farmer organisation, and financial institutions.

"For BCI farm implementation programme the focus countries are India, Pakistan and China, wherein BCI looks to have its office and staff. Better Cotton works on six principles such as minimizing the harmful impact of crop protection practices; use water efficiently and care for the availability of water; care for the health of the soil; conserve natural habitats; care for and preserve the quality of the fibre; and promote decent work," Ramakrishnan added.

As part of BCI, Arvind Ltd along with WWF, Solidaridad, AFPRO, ACF, Trident and Cotton Connect are implementing partners for BCI in India. Today six countries are producing Better Cotton which includes India, Pakistan, China, Brazil, Mozambique and Mali. In pipeline are also Turkey, US and Australia, among others.

At Arvind itself, of the current approx. 75,000 acres involving 9100 farmers that Arvind has under contract farming, 49,000 acres is under BCI (31000 acres in Akola involving 3000 farmers and 18000 acres involving 2600 farmers in Nizar) and rest 26,000 acres involving 3500 farmers is under organic in Akola.

Further, Arvind Limited is adding another 11500 acres involving 1000 new farmers in BCI Nizar project and another 23000 acres involving 2000 farmers under organic farming in Akola. Currently project cost varies between 20 to 35 euros (Rs 1500 to Rs 2500 roughly) per farmer under BCI fast track programme.