Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Société et Environnement (Jan 2010)
Le coton biologique au Paraguay. 1. Construction de la filière et contraintes économiques
Abstract
Organic cotton production in Paraguay. 1. Some economic limitations for a novel industry. Paraguay, whose small farmers are traditionally cotton growers, has begun to crop and process organic cotton since 2003. An exploratory study was carried out in order to have a better knowledge of the way the organic cotton production has developed and to detect eventual economic limitations. The study was achieved in 2008 during the cotton harvest period by interviewing the actors from the farm to the industrial level. The organic cotton industry was built by a single company in a favorable national (20 years of organic production for a diversity of crops) and international (an increasing demand for organic products, including cotton) context. This single company applied a strategy of creating alliances with NGOs, public authorities and other private operators, in order to increase farm production – by adding new farmers – and textile manufacture and trade worldwide. We detected three kinds of economic limitations. Firstly, organic cotton production still remained largely dependent on the conventional cotton industry for the supply of seed. Secondly, the cumbersome certification process at farm level and its cost associated with increased logistic problems derived from the increase in geographical dispersion of small producers appeared to seriously limit the possibilities for expansion. Thirdly, although the price paid for organic cotton was 12-14% higher in 2008, the obligation for the farmers to sell drier cotton and a longer buying process resulting in delayed cash payments led many farmers to sale a large part of their organic cotton to conventional buyers. We recommend in-depth studies on these three topics to acquire a better knowledge of their extent in terms of intensities and variations, and to propose measures to mitigate them.
