Big farmer

According to the Better Cotton Initiative Standard, large farmers are those who produce cotton sustainably on more than 2,000 decares (= 200 hectares) of land and are structurally dependent on employing permanent workers (working 12 months a year). Large farmers participate individually in the BCI Standard System and the licensing process.

Compliance with the Good Cotton Principles and Criteria - Minimum Indicators is assessed by BCI-approved third-party independent auditors. Unlike Small and Medium-Sized Farmers, who are grouped under Producer Units, Large Farmers are responsible for bearing the costs arising from the assessment processes themselves.

Large farmers who are deemed to be producing in accordance with the Minimum Indicators are called Licensed Good Cotton Farmers and can sell the cotton they produce as “Good Cotton”. Large farmers with a Good Cotton license produce cotton in a way that respects people and the environment; water, soil health and natural habitats, and provides decent working conditions for their workers.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF LARGE-SCALE FARMERS

Completing BCI's annual Self-Assessment survey.
To produce in accordance with the Minimum Indicators defined by farm categories in the Good Cotton Principles and Criteria, and to participate in assessments conducted by BCI-approved third-party independent auditors to verify this compliance.
Where nonconformities are identified, corrective actions are planned and implemented.
Maintaining records of input and output data at the farm level and reporting these records annually to BCI in the form of an Outcome Indicators Report.
Developing and implementing a Continuous Progress Plan.
To physically separate harvested Good Cotton from conventional (traditional, other) cotton throughout all stages of harvesting, storage, transportation, and sales.
To keep the License Number assigned to him safe and only share it with the ginning plants he sells to.
To maintain and keep records/documents relating to Good Cotton sales.

BENEFITS OF THE GOOD COTTON STANDARD SYSTEM FOR LARGE FARMERS

Farmers, their families, and workers are the primary beneficiaries of the Good Cotton Standard System.
High quality standard (Better Cotton)
Empowerment of farmers and workers through organization.
Reducing input costs (Keeping regular records of farm input and output, monitoring and evaluating these records over the years, helps increase profitability in production.)
It helps meet the demand for Better Cotton in the supply chain and ensures that farmers are at the heart of this supply chain.
Long-term sustainability of agricultural activities (soil fertility, environmental health, etc.)
Health and working conditions improve for farmers, workers, their families, and consequently in cotton-producing regions.
Farmers' access to information becomes easier and increases.
The Good Cotton Standard incorporates farmers' views and suggestions thanks to its participatory approach.

Click here to learn what you need to know to become a Big Farmer.

Click here to apply for the 2024-25 season of Büyük Çiftlik.