The Chetna Organic Farmers Association (COFA) was set up in late 2007 – owned collectively by the cotton farmers. Untill that time, Chetna Organic was only a project run by independent development organizations. COFA will take more responsibility leading towards an independent and autonomous organization.

The first three years are quite hard for the farmers, however afterwards their lives will greatly improve.

Only 1% of the Indian farmers work in an organic manner. Goodforall visited two groups which are members of Chetna Organic. We understand from the discussions with the farmers that the first three years yield less produce, leading to less income and less rice in their bowls! Luckily we spoke to a group of farmers who have been producing cotton organically for ten years and they are producing well. Better than before. The traditional manner of growing cotton is at a dead end. After a few years the soil has been depleted, dried out and eroded by the increasing use of pesticides. Many farmers do not see a way out and commit suicide by drinking their own pesticides. This is horrific! We do not understand that there is still so much demand for non-organic cotton. All the cotton used for Allpure comes from farmers linked to the Chetna Organization. A percentage of each article sold is given to Chetna to support these farmers.

Solidaridad supports Chetna Organic and has seen a great deal of progress in recent years. The numbers of farmers that work without pesticides has increased from 240 to 8000 in the last four years. No more suicides have been committed. Furthermore, the world market for organic cotton doubles every year. For more information-

http://www.chetnaorganic.org.in/Project%20Chetna.html