Since 2013 we have been working to support cotton farmers in Southern Ethiopia to adopt safer and more sustainable methods of growing pesticide-free cotton. We now have 2000 smallholder farmers achieving average yields over 100% higher than before. An organic cotton producers’ cooperative is selling Grade A organic cotton at a premium price and, with our technical support, it has just started supplying organic seed to farmers in the area. So much can be achieved and we are grateful to TRAID and the JJ Charitable Trust for financing this initiative.
I have just returned to Ethiopia from the recent Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm (BRS) Convention Conferences of Parties held in Geneva in April/May 2017. A big focus was on phasing out Highly Hazardous Pesticides. I hope that work like ours will help to convince decision-makers that an agro-ecological approach works for farmers and helps to remove hazardous pesticides from our environment. Do read our new leaflet alongside to find out more.
Find out more about our work in cotton.
Tadesse Amera
Director, PAN Ethiopia
