Tajikistan and Better Cotton aim to unlock new opportunities
Cotton sustainability initiative Better Cotton has signed a new memorandum of understanding with Tajikistan’s ministry of agriculture to reinforce an existing partnership and further support the production of more sustainable cotton across the Central Asian nation.
Tajikistan’s minister of agriculture, Qurbon Khakimzoda, signed the new agreement at a special investment and development forum in London in late March. Director of fundraising, Rebecca Owen, signed on behalf of Better Cotton. They said their aims included improving the quality of cotton fibre, farmer wellbeing and overall agricultural sustainability in Tajikistan.
They will conduct outreach and awareness activities across the country to promote the benefits of more sustainable growing practices and the adoption of practical innovations to help farmers improve. They will also work together to identify new sources of funding and investment to “unlock new opportunities” across the country’s cotton sector.
Better Cotton has been working with farmers in Tajikistan for some time. In the 2019-2020 cotton season, synthetic fertiliser use among farmers who have engaged with Better Cotton was 62% lower than among non-engaged farmers and yields were 15% higher.
Rebecca Owen said further Better Cotton involvement in the industry in Tajikistan would help create opportunities to improve livelihoods, wellbeing and market access for cotton farming communities there.
