1.3 Condiciones referidas al uso de datos documentados mediante WOCAT

El compilador y la/s persona(s) de referencia claves aceptan las condiciones acerca del uso de los datos documentados mediante WOCAT:

Sí

2.1 Breve descripción de la Tecnología

Definición de la Tecnología:

In the Loba province of Burkina Faso, the production, storage, processing and marketing of organic cotton has been promoted since 2004 by Helvetas.

2.2 Descripción detallada de la Tecnología

Descripción:

Organic cotton production adheres to the principles and standards of organic farming. Any application of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides and the use of genetically modified varieties are forbidden. Organic cotton relies on a combination of different measures: (1) the use of organic fertilizers (manure or compost) and recycling of organic matter; (2) Crop rotation and/or intercropping; (3) Careful selection of varieties adapted to local conditions (climate, soil, pests and diseases); (4) Biological pest management (in combination with careful monitoring of crops); (5) Clear separation of organic and conventional cropland, e.g. by growing border crops (to avoid contact with chemical substances through spray drift or surface runoff); and (6) Soil and water conservation measures. Timely crop management (e.g. weeding) is very important. In Loba rotations crops include sesame (a cash crop), cereals and legumes (food crops), while intercrops include leguminous green manure and trap plants. The best adapted cotton variety is FK-37. Bio-pesticides are produced based on neem seeds (Azadirachta indica). The measures listed above help to improve soil fertility, reduce production costs (and thus financial risk) and avoid the negative effects of conventional farming: declining yields, resistance to pests and diseases, health hazards and environmental problems caused through the use of chemicals. By relying on inputs available/produced on the farm and by getting a better price for certified organic products, profitability of the farm is improved in the long run despite of lower productivity compared to conventional or genetically modified (GM) cotton. Farms need to complete a 3-year conversion period to change their production system from conventional to organic. Farmers have to maintain records and documents for periodic inspection and certification (Internal control system).

2.3 Fotografías de la Tecnología

2.5 País/ región/ lugares donde la Tecnología fue aplicada y que se hallan comprendidos por esta evaluación

2.6 Fecha de la implementación

Si no se conoce el año preciso, indique la fecha aproximada:

• hace menos de 10 años (recientemente)

2.7 Introducción de la Tecnología

Especifique cómo se introdujo la Tecnología:

• mediante proyectos/ intervenciones externas

3.2 Tipo(s) actuales de uso de la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Fertility decline and reduced OM content; Biodiversity decline

3.3 Información adicional sobre el uso de tierras

Provisión de agua para la tierra donde se aplica la Tecnología:

• de secano

3.5 Difusión de la Tecnología

Comentarios:

around 7'000 farmers

3.6 Medidas MST que componen la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Main measures: agronomic measures

Type of agronomic measures: mixed cropping / intercropping, legume inter-planting, manure / compost / residues

3.7 Principales tipos de degradación del suelo encarados con la Tecnología

Comentarios:

Main type of degradation addressed: Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content, Bs: quality and species composition /diversity decline

3.8 Prevención, reducción o restauración de la degradación del suelo

Especifique la meta de la Tecnología con relación a la degradación de la tierra:

• reducir la degradación del suelo
• prevenir la degradación del suelo

Comentarios:

Main goals: prevention of land degradation, mitigation / reduction of land degradation

4.2 Especificaciones técnicas/ explicaciones del dibujo técnico

Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: high

Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate

Main technical functions: improvement of ground cover, increase in organic matter, increase in nutrient availability (supply, recycling,…), promotion of vegetation species and varieties (quality, eg palatable fodder)

Secondary technical functions: improvement of water quality, buffering / filtering water

Mixed cropping / intercropping
Material/ species: intercrops include leguminous green manure and trap plants

Manure / compost / residues
Material/ species: manure or compost

Agronomic measure: bio-pesticides
Material/ species: from Neem seeds (Azadirachta indica)

4.6 Actividades de establecimiento/ recurrentes

	Actividad	Tipo de medida	Momento/ frequencia
1.	Compost production / Clear crop residues on fields where cotton will be planted, use for mulch or compost production (no burning)	Agronómicas
2.	Apply organic manure: 7.5 t/ha / Ploughing (for incorporation of manure, pest and weed control)	Agronómicas
3.	Sow cotton and intercrops (such as Hibiscus esculentus – a trap plant for pests; or Mucuna – a green manure plant); Thin out cotton after 10-20 days (1-2 plants per pocket)	Agronómicas
4.	Weeding (3 to 4 times: 20/40/70/100days after sowing) / Pest control (manual collection); Spraying of bio-pesticide (64 liters / ha, based on neem seeds): according to infestation: up to 3 times	Agronómicas
5.	Ridging (form furrows and ridges using plough or manually) / Pre-harvest weeding / Harvesting / Cut cotton stems / residues and incorporate into the soil	Agronómicas

4.7 Costos e insumos necesarios para actividades de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (por año)

Comentarios:

Machinery/ tools: hoe, plough, wheel-barrow, knapsack

4.8 Factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Describa los factores más determinantes que afectan los costos:

Standard equipment (hoe, plough, wheel-barrow) is not included in costs, knapsack is provided by producer’s association (UNPCB) on credit; transport bags are donated. Labour and other inputs for erosion control measures (e.g. stone bunds) are not included in costs. Neem biocide costs US$ 0.7 per liter; organic cotton seeds cost US$ 1.7 per 50 kg.

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografía

5.3 Suelos

5.6 Las características de los usuarios de la tierra que aplican la Tecnología

Indique otras características relevantes de los usuarios de las tierras:

Difference in the involvement of women and men: certain activities carried out in mutual help groups

Population density: 50-100 persons/km2

5.7 Área promedio de la tierra que pertenece a o es arrendada por usuarios de tierra que aplican la Tecnología

5.8 Tenencia de tierra, uso de tierra y derechos de uso de agua

Tenencia de tierra:

• estado

Derechos de uso de tierra:

• individual

Comentarios:

group (family clans) / state

6.1 Impactos in situ demostrados por la Tecnología

Impactos socioeconómicos

Ingreso y costos

Impactos socioculturales

Impactos ecológicos

Suelo

Biodiversidad: vegetación, animales

6.3 Exposición y sensibilidad de la Tecnología al cambio climático gradual y a extremos relacionados al clima/ desastres (desde la percepción de los usuarios de tierras)

Comentarios:

Tolerant to climatic extremes due to higher water retention capacity of soils, reduced erosion and crop diversification (reduced risk of total crop failure)

6.4 Análisis costo-beneficio

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de establecimiento (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

¿Cómo se comparan los beneficios con los costos de mantenimiento/ recurrentes (desde la perspectiva de los usuarios de tierra)?

Comentarios:

Establishment costs are higher than revenues due to investments & initial decrease in yield (conversion period). On the long term, advanced farmers can achieve same or even higher yields than conventional cotton systems

6.5 Adopción de la Tecnología

Comentarios:

100% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support

Comments on adoption trend: The proportion of organic cotton is growing

6.7 Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades de la Tecnología

Fuerzas/ ventajas/ oportunidades desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave
This technology helps to improve soil fertility, reduce production costs (and thus financial risk) and avoid the negative effects of conventional farming: declining yields, resistance to pests and diseases, health hazards and environmental problems caused through the use of chemicals

6.8 Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos de la Tecnología y formas de sobreponerse a ellos

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del usuario de la tierra	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Lack of water	establish water retention structures

Debilidades/ desventajas/ riesgos desde la perspectiva del compilador o de otra persona de referencia clave	¿Cómo sobreponerse a ellas?
Coexistence of organic and GMO cotton resulting in high risk of contamination	intensify training of farmers; set up a coordination platform between organic and GMO farms; GMO communication plan; establish a sampling & testing system
Insufficient application of manure / compost	training on compost production; promote supply of organic manure (e.g. through SMEs specialized in compost production).
Large distance to cotton fields (resulting in high transportation costs) due to interfering of browsing livestock close to village	hay-making and corralling of livestock.
Lack of land, land ownership and land security	promote land leasing; resolve tenure problem on political level.
Lack of equipment (e.g. plough)	Develop and maintain access to credits for small-scale farmers.

7.2 Vínculos a las publicaciones disponibles

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Helvetas. 2008. Guide de production - Un manuel de reference (Authors: Ouedraogo A, Yombi L, Doumbia S, Eyhorn F, Dischl R)

Título, autor, año, ISBN:

Eyhorn F., S.G. Ratter, M. Ramakrishnan. 2005. Organic Cotton Crop Guide – A Manual for Practitioners in the Tropics; Research Institute of Organic Agriculture FiBL, Frick, Switzerland