Today, on International Women’s Day, CottonConnect celebrates the remarkable contributions of women, who make up 46% of the estimated 31.5 million cotton farmers worldwide. In its newly launched report, CottonConnect highlights the vital role of women farmers in transitioning to a more sustainable future and emphasises the need for further training and support initiatives to help them achieve this.

Through its Women in Cotton programme, CottonConnect has spent the past decade empowering women to take charge of sustainable agricultural practices, lead climate action, and drive sustainability and resilience within their communities. By providing literacy, numeracy, rights, and health education, the programme enables women to take advantage of new livelihood opportunities—within cotton or through supplemental income from their own enterprises. Designed to address inequality and stereotypes of women as mere farm support, the programme recognises the vital role women play both on and off the field.

In 2023-24 alone, over 270,000 women participated in the programme. This new report brings together first-hand stories from female programme farmers across India, Bangladesh, Egypt, and Pakistan. Despite their potential as leaders in climate mitigation, women farmers face significant challenges, including extreme weather events linked to climate change, cultural norms that deny them land ownership and decision-making power, and a lack of access to resources and training. Many support programmes and financial resources continue to prioritise men.

Alison Ward, CEO of CottonConnect, commented: "Climate change disproportionately affects women, and it is essential to bring the latest knowledge to farming communities, empowering women with the tools needed to mitigate climate shocks. While our innovations have proven effective, we will only be successful if we listen to and amplify the voices of rural women. The valuable insights from women who have participated in our Women in Cotton programme will enable us to continue evolving our training and support them in the challenges they face."

From the input of women farmers, the key impacts of the Women in Cotton training programme identified were:

Empowerment through climate education: The Women’s Climate Ambassador Programme has helped women farmers gain a clearer understanding of climate change, fostering confidence and social recognition. Many now engage in household and community decision-making.

Economic gains: Women reported improved incomes through better farming techniques and resource management, leading to enhanced economic stability.

Adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices: Participants implemented practical, climate-friendly solutions such as improved water management, tree plantations, biopesticides, and crop diversification, increasing farm productivity and reducing reliance on chemicals.

Health benefits: By adopting natural pest control methods, biofertilisers, and biopesticides, farmers reduced exposure to harmful chemicals, mitigating health risks. Tree planting and agroforestry also help lower local temperatures and provide shade, reducing heat stress for farmers and their families.

Community and systemic change: The programme has helped shift perceptions among families and community leaders, recognising and supporting women’s roles as farmers and climate stewards.

CottonConnect is now working to implement these learnings into its programme and the wider industry. The organisation urges brands, retailers, and stakeholders to invest in targeted climate mitigation training for women and facilitate systemic changes that improve women’s access to resources and markets.

Women In Cotton: Experiences from Women Mitigating the Effects of Climate Change

www.cottonconnect.org