With positive advances since 2022, the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF) has produced its yearly report on the progress of the Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA) initiative. According to the research, small-scale farmers’ support systems and working conditions have been assessed as “very good.”
According to the report, independent third parties regularly carried out verifications in order to verify the standards in cotton fields and ginneries. The verification results revealed significant advancements from 2022. In areas including pre-financing, cotton fiber availability, and small-scale farmers’ access to high-quality inputs, partners scored highly.
According to the AbTF, “excellent” ratings were given for supply chain transparency, namely for seed cotton’s traceability, equitable classification, and payment schemes, as well as for the timely payments made to farmers who were under contract under the CmiA. Due in part to a significant emphasis on employee rights, health, and controlled working hours, working conditions and farmer support were evaluated as “very good.”
The report verified that CmiA cotton is farmed exclusively without genetically modified seeds and without utilizing surface water or groundwater for irrigation, in accordance with environmental regulations.
The manager of CmiA’s verification at AbTF, Elena Wahrenberg, stressed that tight cooperation with local partners has enhanced cotton cultivation in Africa and that verifications uphold the credibility of their standards. She went on to say that regular training initiatives will keep improving small-scale farmers’ agricultural practices’ resilience and adaptability.
