TEXTILES.ORG
The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) has launched its Organic Cotton Training Curriculum (OCTC), a training resource for Turkish farmers and field teams.
The OCA is a multi-stakeholder organization with a mission of creating a transparent organic cotton supply chain.
The curriculum incorporates best practices in organic cotton farming and tailors them to Türkiye’s soils, climate and growing conditions. For the first time, it includes a dedicated module on regenerative agriculture, offering clear guidance on rebuilding soil fertility, supporting biodiversity and strengthening long-term farm resilience.
In addition to agronomy, the curriculum introduces modules on farm management and digital literacy. These components help farmers and field teams improve recordkeeping, understand farm economics, plan inputs and crop rotations more effectively, and make better use of digital tools—from basic smartphone applications to farm data platforms—to track performance and inform decision-making.
“Türkiye’s cotton farmers are ready to take the next step, and the OCTC gives them the practical guidance to do so,” says Ömür Suner, country manager for OCA in Türkiye. “By tailoring the curriculum to our national agronomic conditions and collaborating closely with local partners, we are ensuring that every field officer and farmer receives relevant, high-quality support. This resource is a cornerstone for strengthening Türkiye’s leadership in organic cotton production.”
The curriculum was tested with field teams during hands-on workshops in Türkiye’s cotton-growing regions throughout the latest season. It builds on OCA’s training model, first launched in India (2022) and Pakistan (2023). Across both countries, the OCTC has delivered 25 agronomic training sessions.
The OCTC was developed in collaboration with Ankara-based Prospera Impact and in consultation with Turkish sector partners, including the Ministry of Forestry and Agriculture.
The OCTC is publicly available in both Turkish and English, along with a trainer’s handbook with best practices for delivering the material. The curriculum will be updated regularly based on field feedback and expert insights.
To access the OCTC, click here.