source: https://doi.org/10.7892/boris.69707 | downloaded: 31.1.2022
Results of Impact Studies in Burkina Faso and Kyrgyzstan
Felicitas Bachmann
Centre for Development and Environment, University of Bern
The studies
Objectives
Analysis of the impact of organic cotton production on the livelihoods of involved farmers
ü Economic impact
ü Social impact (workload, health, etc.) ü Environmental impact (soil fertility)
Approach
ü Comparison between organic and conventional farms
ü Comparison today – before conversion
Methodology
1. Individual interviews 2. Group interviews
3. Learning event
Burkina Faso
Fada Tenkodogo Dano
Study areas
• Helvetas organic cotton programme started in 2004
Impact study
• 3 zones à 6 villages
• Sample: 53 organic / 48 convent. Farmers
• conducted end 2008
Economic impact (BF)
Cotton yields Gross margin
(according to respondents, no measurements made)
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1'000 1'100 1'200 1'300 1'400 1'500 1'600
Bio Conv.
Kg/ha
Cotton yields 2008
(incl. 1stand 3rdquartile)
Conventional à 40% higher yields
-100-500 50 100 150200 250 300
Produit brut Intrants Marge brutte
opérationnelles x1'000 CFA / ha
Bio Conv.
Gross Input Gross Revenue costs margin
organic
conventional
Organic à 30% higher gross margin
Workload for cotton Health conditions
• Organic farmers have a more positive
perception of human and animal health
Social impact (BF)
157 121
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
B (44) C (25) 0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Reihe3 Reihe1
Man days / ha
Workload cotton
% done by workers
organic conventional
Organic à 23% less work
Ecological impact (BF)
Soil fertility
• Organic farmers perceive an
improvement of soil fertility
Kyrgyzstan
• Helvetas organic cotton programme started in 2004
Impact study
• 3 zones à 7 villages
• Sample: 44 organic / 33 conventional
farmers
• Study on-going (June / Oct. 2009)
Study area
Economic impact (KG)
Cotton yields Gross margin
organic conventional
Production costs (Som/ha) Gross revenue (Som/ha) Gross margin (Som/ha)
preliminary results
organic conventional
Conventional à 12% higher yields
(according to respondents, no measurements made)
Qualitative data à comparison between:
• Today and before conversion to organic farming
• Today and 5 years ago (conventional farmers)
Cotton
Cotton yields Production costs Revenue cotton
organic
conventional
55%
increase decrease
26% 39%
18%
17% 53%
49% 28%
decrease increase
90% 0%
25% 50%
decrease increase
Social impact (KG) - workload
Qualitative data
Workload Workload Overall workload cotton women (farming)
organic
conventional
60%
increase decrease
36% 19%
15%
32% 26%
55% 5%
decrease increase
32% 29%
48% 8%
decrease increase
Social impact - health (KG)
general health conditions of the family
organic
conventional
16% 19%
21% 17%
worsened improved
Environmental impact (KG) - soils
Qualitative data
Soil Water holding
fertility capacity
organic
conventional
95%
increase decrease
16% 45%
0%
10% 41%
88% 0%
decrease increase
Challenges
• how to manage growth?
412
466
507 550
540
0 1'000 2'000 3'000 4'000 5'000 6'000 7'000
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09 t, ha,
nbre
300 350 400 450 500 550 600
kg/ha
Production (t) Superficies (Ha) Producteurs/trices Rendement (kg/ha)
Production (t) No. of organic farmers
Cultivated cotton (ha) Yields (kg/ha)
Burkina Faso
