Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) has taken a significant step in Türkiye’s organic cotton sector by introducing the Organic Cotton Training Curriculum (OCTC), a practical and easy-to-use educational resource specifically designed for Turkish farmers and field teams.
The new curriculum brings together proven best practices in organic cotton cultivation and adapts them to Türkiye’s soil, climate, and farming conditions. For the first time in Türkiye, the curriculum includes a dedicated module on regenerative agriculture, giving farmers clear guidance on restoring soil fertility, supporting biodiversity, and strengthening the long-term resilience of their fields.
Alongside agricultural science, the curriculum also features modules on field management and digital literacy. These modules help farmers and field staff improve record-keeping skills, understand farm economics, plan inputs and crop rotations more effectively, and monitor performance and make evidence-based decisions using digital tools—from basic smartphone applications to advanced field data platforms.
“Türkiye’s cotton farmers are ready to take the next step, and the OCTC provides practical guidance to support them in this process,” said OCA Türkiye Country Manager Ömür Suner. “By adapting the curriculum to our country’s agricultural conditions and working closely with local partners, we ensure that every field officer and farmer receives high-quality, purpose-driven support. This resource is a milestone for strengthening Türkiye’s leadership in organic cotton production,” she added.
The curriculum was trialled with field teams during hands-on workshops held in Türkiye’s cotton-growing regions last season. OCTC builds on OCA’s proven training model first launched in India (2022) and Pakistan (2023). In both countries, OCA conducted 25 agricultural training sessions, enhancing the capacity of nearly 200 field staff and demonstrating the value of a shared, high-quality training framework for farmers engaged in organic production or transitioning to organic practices.
A timely resource
The launch follows OCA’s official entry into Türkiye in 2024, marked by the opening of a dedicated local office to bring together stakeholders across the organic cotton value chain. Within OCA’s broader capacity-building efforts in Türkiye, the curriculum supports a long-term vision for a sustainable and transparent organic cotton sector—one that rewards farmers and preserves the ecosystems that provide livelihoods for both farmers and communities.
Developed with Türkiye, for Türkiye
The Organic Cotton Training Curriculum was developed in collaboration with Ankara-based Prospera Impact and in consultation with Turkish industry partners such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
To maximise accessibility, OCA has released the Türkiye-adapted curriculum in both Turkish and English. A Trainer’s Handbook has also been prepared, sharing best practices to ensure effective knowledge transfer. This approach supports adoption of the curriculum across all stakeholders in the organic cotton sector. The curriculum will be regularly updated based on field feedback and expert input.
OCA invites organisations working in cotton and sustainable agriculture to integrate the curriculum into their farmer training programmes. The aim is to provide practical knowledge that helps farmers restore soil, increase productivity, and create sustainable livelihoods for the future.
