Thousands of African smallholder farmers grow organic cotton, used in clothing sold in Europe and North America. Organic cotton cultivation has brought these farming families significant benefits in health, welfare and income but global cotton prices are notoriously unstable, even for organic cotton. So farmers are anxious not be dependent on cotton alone for their cash income and keen to find better markets for the food crops they grow. But selling for local markets is not always an attractive option as prices are often low and local demand for organic versions of their food crops is limited.
Farmers in organic cotton projects in Senegal and Benin are therefore exploring opportunities for exporting selected food crops.
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