Close of a good cotton season in Tanzania
This year we were able to buy 5’200 tons of organically grown raw cotton in Tanzania.
Remei Tanzania (formerly bioRe Tanzania) and 1’866 smallholders from 29 villages in the districts of Meatu and Maswa are satisfied with this year’s season! The little rain came at the right time for the cotton plants to grow and has helped to avert major problems caused by a breeding of pests.
At Remei’s production partner Bibiti in Tanzania, ginning of the raw cotton began during the harvest between June and August. Produced cotton bales were stored at Bibiti, and from there go into the Remei supply chain for sustainable organic cotton products for spinning to the Tanzanian Remei production partner Sunflag in Arusha, or for shipping directly to the port of Dar es Salaam.
With the registration and a renewed cooperation with Remei Tanzania, the next season begins for the farmers.
INCREASED DEMAND FOR ORGANIC COTTON
Due to an increased demand for organic cotton, Remei Tanzania has for the first time seen organic cotton buyers from all over the world being on the spot in Tanzania during the buying season.
Marco Paul, Co-CEO Remei Tanzania, looks back: “The buying price for cotton increased tremendously and was twice as high as last year. Such a price has never been seen before! The number of organic cotton buyers in our area is increasing, and so is the competition. At Remei Tanzania, we are serving our farmers well. We involve the farmers and support them in growing organically all year round. They receive a purchase guarantee from Remei for their raw material and an organic premium of 15% on top of the local market price.
In order to meet an increased demand for organic cotton, we plan to extend the cooperation to 3 more villages in the coming year. We support interested farmers already during the 3-year conversion phase to organic farming with know-how, a purchase guarantee and premium.”
