Evaluation of the early impacts of the better cotton initiative on smallholder cotton producers in Kurnool District, India: Baseline report

The Better Cotton Standard System is a holistic approach to sustainable cotton production that covers all three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic. The main study research questions is - To what extent has the process of becoming or being certified under BCI sustainability standards had an impact (positive or negative, expected or unexpected) upon smallholders (farmers and households) in Kurnool district? What are the economic (yield, productivity, incomes, food security) and social (child labour, farm workers, no discrimination in wages for women) impacts? In order to be able to measure and attribute impact, but also to understand what has created impact and identify lessons, the study employs a theory based evaluation approach. The baseline and interim performance monitoring rounds of the research have been completed. The end line research is planned in 2018-19