During winter 2005/06, Dunavant/Uganda joined two Ugandan companies, who already enjoyed long experience in the production of Organic cotton, sesame seeds and chili. “Northern Uganda Eco-Organic” (NUEO) was created with these two partners, in order to support farmers in the North of Uganda and continue to expand and improve the practice of organic agriculture.
Certification procedures were put in place with the help and under supervision of I.M.O. Control. I.M.O. Control, based in Weinfelden, Switzerland (www.imo.ch), is one of the major certifying organisms, with accreditation by all governments and large experience of organic certification in all sorts of commodities (coffee, tea, vegetables, fruit, flowers, etc.) and in the textile sector. They are a leading force in the establishment of “Global Organic Textile Standards” (GOTS).
The already existing “Internal Control System” was expanded by NUEO in order to register and supervise more farmers, and to control that production is strictly in accordance with organic procedures and regulations.
11’691 organic farmers have been registered and contracted for season 2006/2007.
Two of our ginneries, Odokomit and Ngetta in Lira district, have been certified in July 2006. Thereafter our production procedures, our internal control system and our export structure passed satisfactorily all requirements of Organic certification according to European regulations as per “EEC No. 2092/91” and U.S. procedures as per USDA “National Organic Program” (NOP).
Our production of certified Organic Uganda roller-ginned cotton will reach about 6’600 bales (of about 200 kgs) in 06/07, which is a success for a first season despite adverse weather conditions (after Uganda was affected by drought in 05/06, untimely rains and El Niño have reduced 06/07 cotton crop by 40%). The quality in 06/07 corresponds to average U.S. description Middling staple 1-1/8”, micronaire 3.5-4.9ncl, strength Gpt 28 min.

In addition to this joint operation, Dunavant/Uganda has started a new, entirely private Organic program in a zone further north in Uganda. The Gulu district has been severely affected by 20 years of civil war and most farmers had to leave their fields for IDP camps (overall 1.6 million people have been displaced in the north of Uganda). Approximately 12’000 farmers will benefit from our new Organic training and support program, which will already start production next season 07/08.

Since January 2007, Dunavant has joined “The Organic Exchange” (website: www.organicexchange.org).

Re: Organic Uganda R/G cotton, please contact Olivier Boillat at Dunavant SA, Geneva, Switzerland (+41.22.929.81.00 and trading@dunavant.ch) for merchandising, Paku Patel (tpatel@dunavant.co.ug ) and Ravi Patel (ravipatel@dunavant.co.ug) at Dunavant Uganda Ltd. for production/exports.