Better Practices. Better Prices. Better Lives.

The Farmer at the Centre

East African farmers produce some of the world's finest cotton. Our job is to make sure the world knows it and pays fairly for it.

For too long, East African cotton farmers have been price-takers in a system they did not design. Commodity markets, opaque pricing, limited access to inputs, and no direct connection to end buyers have kept incomes low and livelihoods fragile.

eko·kotton is building an alternative. One where farmers understand the value of what they grow, are trained to meet international quality and certification standards, and have direct access to buyers who pay premiums for verified, sustainable cotton.

What Our Programme Covers

Our farmer programme is structured across four areas of support, delivered through cooperative partnerships and field extension officers

2. Certification Pathway Support

• Internal Control System (ICS) setup for GOTS group certification

• Cotton Connect programme alignment supporting organic transition and Better Cotton criteria

• Organic record-keeping and field-level documentation training

• Annual self-assessment and preparation for third-party organic audit

1. Organic Agronomic Training

• Certified organic cultivation practices aligned with GOTS fibre-stage and Cotton Connect standards

• Soil health and biodiversity restoration building long-term fertility without synthetic inputs

• Biological pest management eliminating WHO-prohibited pesticides

• Crop rotation and intercropping for food security and soil nitrogen

• Seed selection and varietal management for organic systems

3. Market Linkages

• Direct connections to domestic ginning partners with organic handling capability

• Access to eko·kotton's international organic buyer network

• Price transparency farmers see what organic buyers pay and how premiums are calculated

• Group selling mechanisms to strengthen collective bargaining for organic fibre

4. Gender and Inclusion

• Targeted inclusion of women farmers in all organic training programmes

• Women in cooperative leadership and board positions

• Financial literacy and income management training

• Support for women as primary economic contributors in their households

Who Can Join

eko·kotton works with smallholder farmers and farmer cooperatives in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. To be eligible for programme participation, cooperatives should meet the following basic criteria:

FAQ for Farmers and Cooperatives

Is there a cost to join the programme?

There is no upfront cost to cooperatives for joining the eko·kotton programme. Our training and support services are provided as part of our development mission. In time, certification costs may apply we help cooperatives plan for and access funding to cover these.

How long before we can access certified markets?

We The timeline to certification depends on your starting point and the standard you are pursuing. Most cooperatives can achieve first-stage certification readiness within 12 to 18 months of joining the programme. We walk this journey with you.

Will we get better prices for our cotton?

Our Certified cotton consistently commands price premiums of 20 to 30% over commodity market rates. Our market linkage work ensures that these premiums reach farmers not just intermediaries.

Do we need to stop using all chemicals?

Transition is gradual. We start by eliminating the most harmful inputs first and build towards full organic compliance over time. Our agronomists work with your farmers on practical, affordable alternatives.