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Sustainable livelihood approaches Concepts and their application in research on organic cotton farming in India

Sustainable livelihood approaches Concepts and their application in research on organic cotton farming in India . Frank Eyhorn Helvetas Organic & Fairtrade Competence Centre. Ziele. Kennenlernen des Sustainable Livelihood Approach

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Sustainable livelihood approaches Concepts and their application in research on organic cotton farming in India

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  1. Sustainable livelihood approachesConcepts and their application in research on organic cotton farming in India Frank Eyhorn Helvetas Organic & Fairtrade Competence Centre

  2. Ziele • Kennenlernen des Sustainable Livelihood Approach • Illustration seiner Anwendung in einem konkreten Fallbeispiel (Bio-Baumwolle Indien) • Anwendung des Konzeptes anhand des eigenen Livelihood Systems • Übertragung auf die personelle Entwicklungszusammenarbeit

  3. What happens at the other end of the chain? “100% organic cotton“ - ???

  4. Challenges in cotton farming Cotton • Worldwide ~ 100 Mio. farmers • Important economic sector in many developing countries • Production involves environmental and health hazards • Decreasing net returns for farmers, increasing indebtedness Organic cotton farming • Increasing number of farmers grow organic cotton • Growing market demand  Is organic cotton farming a viable alternative?

  5. Case study: the Maikaal bioRe initiative in Central India • Located in the Narmada Valley in Madhya Pradesh • Organic nutrient and pest management of the entire farm (robust varieties, organic manures, intercropping, botanical sprays etc.) • No synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, GMO • Company with 1’500 associated certified organic farms (now: 7’900) • Extension and internal control system • 20% organic price premium on local market prices for cotton India

  6. In search of a conceptual approach... Criteria for a reference frame • Help in formulating relevant questions for the analysis of impact and of decision making • Allow meaningful interpretation of observable behaviour • Be based on respect for the societies and actors to which it applies

  7. Two possible conceptual approaches 1) The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (DFID 1999) 2) The Rural Livelihood Systems Mandala (RLS-Mandala) (Högger 1994) inner reality   outer reality

  8. Developing the framework step by step • In how far does the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (DFID) help us to tackle the research question? • What can the RLS-Mandala contribute to a more holistic understanding of livelihoods of (organic) cotton farmers? • Combining the two approaches and testing the framework in research on organic cotton farming in India  The example of farmer Vishnu Gangaram

  9. The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (DFID 1999) High input costs, low cotton prices, droughts Declining in-come, increas-ing debts Decreasing soil fertility  decli-ning yields Maikaal bioRe: extension, price premium New trade rela-tion, better price, less risk Know-how on organic farming methods, skills Better soil fer-tility, less costs, more income Conversion to organic farming „Money to buy inputs“? „Good monsoon“? ? Use of fertilizers; exclusion from the project H = Human Capital S = Social Capital N = Natural Capital P = Physical Capital F = Financial Capital

  10. The Rural Livelihood Systems-Mandala Additional dimensions inner reality outer reality (Högger 1994)

  11. Blending Elements from the Livelihood-Frameworks of DFID and RLS  www.poverty-wellbeing.net

  12. Research questions ... and approach What is the impact of organic farming on the livelihoods of farmers? System comparison study (quantitative) Adoption analysis study (qualitative) What does the adoption of organic farming mean to a farm household? Can adoption of organic farming be meaningfully integrated into a livelihood strategy that enables the farm household to improve its livelihood situation and to cope with the dynamic context?

  13. System comparison study • Comparison of 60 organic and 60 conventional farms, randomly selected • Interviews and agronomic data monitoring (2 years) • Measurements and soil sample analysis • Analysed: cropping patterns, production costs, labour input, water use, yields, gross margins impact on soil, etc.

  14. Main results (organic farms) • Cropping patterns: more diverse crop rotation • Labour input: 0-10% higher • Production costs: 10-20% lower total costs, 40% lower input costs • Yields: no significant difference • Net profit: 30-40% higher in cotton, 10-20% higher in overall farm (including rotation crops) • Soil fertility: no differences in soil organic matter content and water retention capacity detected • Soil nutrients: less fields with nutrient deficiency of P, K and B • No significant difference in irrigation water quantities applied in cotton

  15. Adoption analysis study Analyzed aspects: • Perceptions • Attitudes • Motivations • Decision making • Risk behaviour • Vulnerability • Gender aspects • Obstacles to conversion • Dropping out of organic farming Methods: • Interviews on motivations and perceptions • Time-line analysis • Interviews on changes in the livelihood system • Controversial statement analysis • Group discussions based on video screening • Observation protocols • Research feedback

  16. „Controversial statement analysis“

  17. Group discussions based on video screening

  18. Interviews on changes in the livelihood system

  19. Obstacles to adopting organic farming Obstacles to adopting organic farming Strategy development

  20. Farmers dropping out from organic farming • Compliance with organic standards checked by internal and external control system • Farms excluded from the project due to the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or GMO • High ‘defaulting-rates’ in 2003 (40%) and in 2004 (30%)! • Mainly wealthier farmers defaulted  opportunism! • Temptation of trying out GMO-cotton  „being progressive“! • Insight that free-riding puts the entire group at risk! (losing the certification) • Importance of building emotional project ownership and group coherence, leading to mutual control

  21. Conclusions from the research project Is organic farming a viable option for smallholders in developing countries? • Organic farming can substantially contribute to improving the livelihoods of smallholders. • It can produce similar yields at lower production costs and involving less risk. • It can generate higher incomes and helps strengthening the livelihood base. • It allows more sustainable management of natural resources. • It can contribute to re-inforce cooperation among farmers and strengthen the role of women.

  22. Challenges ahead • Diversification of incomes, soil fertility management and water management (climate change!) need further efforts. • To enable smallholders to adopt organic farming, concepts are needed to minimize and bridge the gap of income during the conversion period. • To avoid defaulting, it is important to build “emotional ownership“ for the project and mutual social control among farmers. • Influence of a dynamic context? GMO-cotton, increasing fuel and food prices, globalisation

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