The traditional cotton farmers see downfall in face of the BCI farmers in India who have managed to achieve an average of 11% higher yield in comparison, this year. They were entitled to 32 per cent higher profits than other cotton farmers. According to the Better Cotton initiative Harvest Report 2014, BCI farmers use an average 20% less pesticide, less synthetic fertiliser and less water for irrigation than other cotton farmers. The close collaboration between BCI farmers and agronomists enabled well-informed decision making to respond to these challenges. Biological pest-control measures were also widely practiced among BCI farmers.
According to the report the cotton producers saw favourable weather conditions this year, with exception of some states that experienced dry periods and cyclones resulting in lower yields. States like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana in particular were affected by a prolonged dry period during the early season. BCI farmers reported using on average 4 per cent less water for irrigation than others. For the conventional farmers most cotton-growing regions felt pest pressure from early-season sap sucking pests. BCI farmers used on average 33 per cent less synthetic fertiliser compared to other farmers. This was in part due to improved access to expert advice from agronomists that helped BCI Producer Units to increase efficiency and achieve positive yields while reducing synthetic fertiliser use. As a result BCI farmers use greater quantities.
