Organic farming for sustainable livelihoods in developing countries?
The case of cotton in India

by Frank Eyhorn


Publisher: vdf Hochschulverlag AG, ETH Zürich, 2007

Based on the example of cotton farming in India, this research examines in how far conversion to organic management can be a viable option for improving the livelihoods of farmers in developing countries. While cotton cultivation provides livelihood for an estimated 10 million Indian households, stagnating cotton yields, high input costs and low cotton prices have led many of them into indebtedness. By substituting synthetic fertilizers and pesticides with farm-own resources and labour, organic farming not only could have the potential to improve natural resource management, but also to reduce production costs and obtain a better price for the produce. Development agencies and companies are increasingly trying to utilize this potential by organizing organic farmer groups and linking them to the growing market demand in industrialized countries.

Eyhorn, F. 2007. Organic farming for sustainable livelihoods in developing countries? The case of cotton in India. Zürich: vdf Hochschulverlag ETH Zürich. ISBN 978-3-7281-3111-9

Language
English

Order from: vdf Hochschulverlag AG

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