COTAAP’s vision is to enable a vibrant, innovative & sustainable Indian cotton industry
The Cotton and Allied Products Research Foundation was set up in 1987 by a group of dedicated professionals from within the cotton industry for whom cotton is a passion and service to the entire cotton value chain is a way of giving back. They also identified early on, the important role of this industry, not only a driver of economic growth and development but also of personal sustenance and progress for millions of Indians.Â
COTAAP has now developed into an organisation with two distinct areas of work viz;Cotton Agronomics & Cotton Promotion.
To enable a vibrant, innovative and sustainable Indian Cotton Industry. The key strategies to enable this are: Farmer Education, Leveraging Agricultural Developments, Creating networks
To play the lead role in ensuring the supremacy of King Cotton by increasing consumption at the end consumer level Key Strategies to enable these are: Demand Enhancement Create awareness about benefits of Cotton Active partner support Identity and Image building
Frontline Demonstrations (FLD) are an effective method to encourage farmers to adopt advanced technologies by de-risking them of potential failures. FLDs are first adopted by progressive farmers and then, if successful, passed on to marginal farmers. FLDs like High Density Planting System (HDPS) and Bamboo Staking have been hugely successful and have led to significant increase in yield in our Chopda projects, in Jal gaon, Maharashtra
This is a platform that brings together farmers irrespective of age, plot size, income or other parameters. It is a robust support system for farmers to encourage them to share their challenges and seek advisory solutions from a secure and progressive forum.
Seminars, conferences and training programmes are regularly organized with the objective of ensuring a scientific approach to farming. This will ensure that crop output is maximized and the farmers also have a better quality of life
We curate & facilitate Public Private Partnerships programmes (PPP) whereby the strengths of the Private Sector can complement resources of the State Government and the cotton farmer would be the ultimate beneficiary.
Rudimentary methods of water and soil conservation in farms involve making bunds with soil from the farm land to hold water. However during heavy monsoons the bunds break, leading water to drain from the farm land also eroding precious most nutrient top layer soil.Â
COTAAP has implemented solutions in Soil and Water Conservation in drought prone villages in Maharashtra where water is scarce in months following the monsoons.Â
The solution entails building of reinforced bunds and recharge pits after studying the land contours. Rain water is directed through the reinforced bunds to the recharge pits and the trenches built alongside the bunds. The top nutrient layer of the soil is arrested by the bunds and retained in the farm land. The rainwater that is directed to the trenches and the recharge pits percolates in the ground. This enables an increase in the ground water table and also makes the water available in the recharge pits in the post monsoon months for the farmers for irrigation.Â
This project was executed in Babhulgaon village in Aurangabad, the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. The Marathwada region is a drought prone region in Maharashtra. The declining rainfall in this region led to water shortage in this area and low groundwater table. The low ground water table also made bore wells futile in the later part of the year.Â
In Babhulgaon where this project was executed there was a significant river called Dheku which was rendered ineffective with hardly any water in the post monsoon months. This was because the river bed was filled with soil, waste and material that prevented the water from percolating and being retained in the bed. COTAAP undertook the work of deepening the river bed, cleaning it of unnecessary material. As an outcome of this project a dead river was revived and the river water continues to benefit the villagers of Babhulgaon
A new project is proposed to the COTAAP board after thorough discus sions between advising scientists, empanelled technical consultants & execution team consisting of supervisory field assistants. In addition, inputs are also taken from progressive farmers who are key influencers for marginal farmers. Regular meetings are held with the co-ordination committee (consisting of progressive farmers and COTAAP team) to discuss farmers’ challenges, new technologies and expected impactÂ
Dissemination of technology is done via village meetings wherein the technique / technology is explained to farmers by COTAAP field assistants & progressive farmers. Educational leaflets are also distributed. Willing farmers are then enrolled into the programme. COTAAP tries to take about 10% of the cost of the technology from the farmers and the rest is borne by COTAAP. This is done only so that the farmers value the technique that is implemented for the benefit. However in many instances specially the marginal farmers are unable to bear the cost. In these cases COTAAP bears the entire cost. Field assistants engage with the farmers to ensure proper implementation & adoption of technology
Impact parameters for each technology are ascertained at the time of finalisation with the COTAAP board. A detailed survey is conducted to note the impact of the technology implemented. For larger projects external auditors are also employed to measure impact.Â
The key strategies that we have employed for our Cotton Promotion objective are Cotton Education (Educating consumers on the benefits of using cotton), Niche segmentation (Building awareness and demand of exclusive Extra Long Staple Suvin Cotton), Visibility Building for the Cotton fibre and Building partnerships and awareness of our cotton promotion cause outside the cotton value chain.
Cotton Promotion Projects
The key strategies that we have employed for our Cotton Promotion objective are Cotton Education (Educating consumers on the benefits of using cotton), Niche segmentation (Building awareness and demand of exclusive Extra Long Staple Suvin Cotton), Visibility Building for the Cotton fibre and Building partnerships and awareness of our cotton promotion cause outside the cotton value chain.
Cottonology School Contact Program
It is important to communicate the benefits of using natural fibre cotton at the beginning of the consumption cycle. This helps build early habits and sensibility of sustainability. With this objective we executed a school contact program for students from the age group of 10 years to 13 years. This program is created for execution in on-ground format as well as online format. The program is executed On-ground primarily in Mumbai and is planned for execution pan-India in online format
(Pictures, Film, Testimonials to be attached)
Suvin RatnaÂ
Suvin is arguably the best and the finest cotton in the world. Suvin was created by the ingenuity of Indian scientists who combined Sujata cotton variety with Sea Island Cotton variety and hence the name Suvin. Special care has to be taken to grow this crop and the quantity grown is restricted to a few thousand bales in Tamil Nadu. Almost all of the entire quantity of this crop is bought by the best Japanese textile mills. The challenge is that there is little or no awareness of Suvin in India and hence little demand.Â
To tackle this issue we launched a premium Suvin shirting brand called Suvin Ratna – The Jewel of Cotton. The brand imagery, launch and distribution of this brand was done keeping in mind its niche and classy positioning. A certificate of authenticity of 100% Suvin was also encased with each shirting material that was encased in a classy leader box.
Images of Suvin Ratna
World Cotton DayÂ
COTAAP commemorated October 7th as World Cotton Day. Activities were held across different platforms with the objective of celebrating and communicating the significance of cotton in our lives and its contribution to our economy and our planet.Â
Panel Discussion: This was basically an industry event. Panel discussions at a global forum were conducted. Cotton experts from several parts of the world came together and expressed views and opinions on the future of the cotton economy, Extra Long Staple Cotton and other such interesting topics.Â
(Pictures)
Essay Competition: We conducted a pan India essay competition for school children aged 10 to 13 years. The topic given to them was; Cotton – Good for me, my country and my planet. We received overwhelming response for this initiative too.
Radio Campaign: We ran radio campaigns on Red FM and Radio City to announce the celebration of World Cotton day and bring about the benefits of using cottonÂ
(Radio Recordings)
Videos of Leadership team, Runners / Fund raisers / Students / CorporatesÂBecomeÂWe believe that there are like-minded organizations who actively work towards goals that are similar to ours and are equipped with complementary capabilities. We look forward to partnering and working with such organizations.
Synergistic partnerships will help us cover more ground and deliver a 3-way win for cotton farmers, partners and COTAAP.
Distribution of farming inputs: Significant amount of support can be extended to farmers by providing farming inputs like seeds, fertilisers etc. every year. Since this is a key step in implementation, the corporate has scope to create a substantial difference.Â
Funding a project or initiative: An initiative is when COTAAP brings yield improvement technologies to farmers of a particular region. There can be several projects running under each initiative. The corporate can partially or fully fund any of these.Â
Fundraise for us though the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM): The TMM has been a very crucial platform for us to raise funds. Partners can be part of this journey by participating as a corporate team and raising funds for our cause.Â
Donations : Your monetary donations as a corporate will go a long way in helping us better farmers’ lives. You can contact us onaparna.chawathe@cotaap.org for direct donations.Â
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Work for a project or initiative: We always welcome helping hands and minds who want to contribute to our cause. There are a number of ways in which you can help. Please email us onaparna.chawathe@cotaap.org to discuss possibilities
Fundraise for us through the Tata Mumbai Marathon (TMM)
The TMM has always been a very crucial platform for us to raise funds. You too can be part of this journey by participating as a runner or collaborator and raising funds for our cause.
Donations: We appreciate every bit of help, small or big. Your donations as an individual or a group will go a long way in helping us to better farmers’ lives.
In addition to working with farmers, we work towards generating enduring demand by building early awareness of cotton and its benefits.