The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) are collaborating to increase awareness of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work (FPRW) among cotton farmers, with an emphasis on small and marginalized workers, in order to strengthen support for the cotton-growing community.
The partnership seeks to strengthen the capacity of marginalized cotton-producing families, increase their access to social protection programs, and promote information exchange and technical assistance for the execution of FPRW-related policies. Five districts in Madhya Pradesh, a crucial state for the production of organic and ELS cotton, would be the focus of the operations.
“For the past 54 years, CITI has strived to increase cotton yield and quality through the Cotton Development and Research Association (CDRA), its extension arm. To do this, the organization promotes best agronomic practices and provides farmers with the newest technologies in plant protection, nutrient management, and production. Cotton yield, farmer income, soil health, and market links have all benefited from CITI-CDRA, according to T. Rajkumar, Chairman of the CITI Standing Committee on Cotton.
Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Textiles have partnered with CITI-CDRA in the Cotton Pilot Project, which aims to increase cotton output through better agronomic techniques and technical innovations like HDPS and closer spacing. Currently, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra are involved in the project.
