Farmers are at the heart of OCA’s mission and empowering them through training and capacity-building is one of our main activity areas. With our network of Implementing Partners, we bring training on organic agriculture to farming communities in the geographies where we operate. We further conducted four Training of Trainer sessions. We host these sessions to build up the knowledge and didactic skills of the field teams of our partners—those who engage directly with the farmers. These training sessions cover a wealth of topics, highlighting the knowledge-intensive nature of organic farming and underscoring our investment in capacity-building; they also serve as excellent opportunities for peer-to-peer learning among our partners, acting as key events for the local organic cotton sector to connect and grow together. They work as a catalyst to fast-track the system’s transformation toward resilience.

OCA’s training curriculum play a crucial role in providing comprehensive education and fostering peer-to-peer learning among our partners. We are proud to have produced the Pakistan version of the Organic Cotton Training Curriculum (OCTC) in 2023, following the successful launch of the India version in 2022. OCTC Pakistan was downloaded 131 times in the first week. A standardised “training of trainers” curriculum, the tool focuses on organic agronomic best practices specifically tailored to Pakistan’s unique context. This was an important milestone for OCA as it increases its support for organic cotton farmers in Pakistan. The curriculum represents the first comprehensive training package specifically designed for organic cotton growers in that country. The resource is available on OCA’s website in English and Urdu, ensuring accessibility to a broader audience within the organic cotton sector across the country.

Demo-plots and seed trials are integral to our capacity-building efforts, emphasising the principle of "seeing is believing." Farmers acquire hands-on practice, not just theoretical knowledge, which is why we support a network of over 471 demonstration farms across more than 250 villages in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, India. These farms showcase various organic and regenerative practices. Additionally, we incorporate seed trials, allowing farmers to observe the growth and performance of different cultivars firsthand, aiding them in making more informed seed sourcing decisions. These initiatives are vital components of our training and capacity-building model, underscoring the practical application and experiential learning that are key to our approach.

OCA is on a mission to empower farmers, guiding them on a transformative journey of continuous learning. Over a season our training programme supports farmers with modules that teach 20 important regenerative and organic practices. By embracing a range of innovative and regenerative farming practices, they're not just boosting their income; they're becoming champions for the planet.