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)
Since our inception in 1987, we have successfully executed projects in key areas of the cotton belt – Ganganagar in Rajasthan, Unali in Gujarat, Panjra Lodhi, Chopda, Yavatmal, Wardha, Babhulgaon in Maharashtra, Raichur in Karnataka. We have made a difference in the lives of over 15,000 farmers.
Chopda is one of our most successful centres. It is a humble tehsil in Jalgaon district constituted by 111 villages. COTAAP Centre in Chopda was established in 2005 with the help of local partners who were aware of the challenges in cotton farming and were willing to act on it. Till date COTAAP has touched the lives of over 14,000 farmers in Chopda and contributed to their lives by helping them significantly increase their yield.
In the 12 years of our presence in Chopda, we have executed several projects covering over 14,000 farmers and clearly increasing the average yield per hectare for participating farmers.
Some of the key projects
This initiative was undertaken to ensure supply of cleaner cotton to the textile industry. Cotton storage bags were provided to the farmers who were made aware of how to use these appropriately in order to ensure contaminant-free cotton.
COTAAP helped farmers understand the condition of their soil by conducting soil tests and helping them interpret the results. They were also trained on how to improve their soil condition.
COTAAP successfully promoted the use of bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides and other eco-friendly practices.
Water and Soil Conservation Project – Yavatmal
Our recent project is in drought prone villages – Dhangarwadi, Mendhala in Yavatmal district and Waigaon in Wardha district in Maharashtra. Spread over approximately 300 hectares collectively, farmers are primarily Cotton growers. COTAAP has initiated a water and soil conservation project in this village. Our primary objective is to increase the groundwater table of the region.
During monsoons, rain water runs through the farm lands taking with it the top soil. If left unchecked or unguided, this leads to soil erosion. Also the water is not conserved or retained in farm lands leading to wastage
Farmers of Yavatmal used to employ rudimentary methods to arrest soil erosion and to conserve rain water in their farms. They would create makeshift bunds on the boundaries of their farms to hold the water. However if the rainfall was higher than expected then they would have to break these bunds to drain the water and avoid flooding. On breaking the bunds, the water would run un-conserved and haphazardly through the farms. In addition, it would also take with it the top soil which has the maximum nutrients. Erosion of the soil’s top layer substantially reduces the land’s nutrient value, thereby negatively impacting the productivity of the crop.
COTAAP introduced a 3 pronged solution with the objective of increasing the ground water table and arresting soil erosion. This solution includes 1. A flexible pipe 2. Smart Bunds 3. A Recharge Pit
A flexible pipe is inserted in the bund like shown in the picture above. When the level of the water is above required levels, the flexible pipe is turned down wards to drain the water. Vice Versa, when it is needed to hold the water in the farm land, the pipe is turned upwards. Also if water is held in the farms for about 4 to 5 hours, it allows the silt to settle in the ground. Also, holding the water for that period does not damage the crops in any way.
Smart Bunds are designed to overcome the limitations of rudimentary bunds. Smart bunds are designed to be stronger. Plants are grown on top of these bunds to give them strength and also arrest / hold soil erosion. Flexible curve pipes are fitted inside these smart bunds. To ensure that the water that runs out when the flexible curve pipe is turned downwards, trenches are built next to the bunds. Water is accumulated in these trenches and seeps through the ground and thereby increases the ground water table.
As a result of this 3 pronged solution (Flexible Pipes, Smart Bunds & Recharge Pits) the rain water is held in the farms adequately so that the silt settles in the farm itself, maintaining the nutrient value of the soil. Also the The excessive water is led to the recharge pits. The additional silt if carried away with the rain water is filtered at the mouth of the recharge pit with the help of the silt filtration T. Water accumulated in the pit seeps into the ground thereby increasing the ground water table.
COTAAP has successfully completed 75 hectares of farm land in Dhangarwadi. We will now start the adjoining village to Dhangarwadi which is Mendala. Mendala is spread over 500 hectares.
