Third Party Verifier (TPV) – OCA Farm Programme in Gujarat & Rajasthan (2023-2024)

Change Alliance, as the third-party verifier for the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA), is ensuring that the Farm Programme aligns with the expectations of global fashion brands and adheres to principles of Business & Human Rights, sustainability and regenerative agriculture. This initiative plays a vital role in strengthening the organic cotton supply chain in India by fostering transparency and trust.

Key Objectives:

  • To collect comprehensive information across specific parameters on the organic cotton value chain to support informed decision-making for the organic cotton farm programme
  • To ensure the collection and analysis of GMO samples from farm and gin level to maintain the integrity of organic cotton.
  • To conduct data collection and validation to ensure accuracy and accountability throughout the supply chain.

Project Highlights:

  • The farm programme covered 19,336 farmers across Gujarat and Rajasthan.
  • We worked with 4 implementing partners across Gujarat & Rajasthan
  • We conducted over 2,000 farmer interviews to document practices and challenges faced by the organic cotton growers.
  • Collected 410 GMO samples and got them tested and analysed in accordance with organic standards.
  • Created Performance Improvement Reports (PIRs) for individual Implementing partners (IPs) collating the findings of the season from the qualitative and quantitative data collected during the data collection phase

Programme Impact:

The collaborative partnership with the Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) in 2023-24 has established Change Alliance as a key partner and trusted third-party verifier for OCA’s program evaluations. This partnership will extend into 2024-25, with an expanded scope to include additional states such as Maharashtra, alongside Rajasthan.

Our extensive fieldwork in Rajasthan and Gujarat has provided us with a nuanced understanding of the cotton sector and the challenges faced by farmers.

This project reaffirms our dedication to promoting sustainable farming practices, empowering marginal and smallholder farmers, advancing gender equality in agri-allied and agri-commodity value chains, and driving the growth of organic cotton as a sustainable and inclusive value chain.