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Cape Town - Consumers can now buy clothing made from South Africa's first commercial organic cotton crop.
The 30 000kg seed-cotton crop was harvested in Limpopo last year as part of a two-year experimental project by Woolworths, the Organic Exchange, ComMark, Cotton SA and the Agricultural Research Council's Institute for Industrial Crops.
The cotton was transformed into material by Rotex Fabrics, after which clothing manufacturer Monviso used it to produce T-shirts. These T-shirts are the first 100% South African organic cotton garments on sale locally.
They are being offered as part of Woolworths' summer range. About five years ago the same retailer was the first in South Africa to sell clothes made of 100% organic cotton.
The farmers on whose farms the cotton is being planted are Jacques Willemse of Hanaline in Weipe, Bertus and Rudolph Otto of Secrabe in Vivo, and Flip Nel of Oppie Randjie in Weipe.
Darren Todd, who heads the Woolworths group's technology divisions, says these producers are already occupied with next year's production.
"The next round will be on a larger scale. We have learnt a great deal about inter-planting and insect control and are building a good foundation for increasing the annual harvest of organic cotton."
According to ComMark executive director Stephen Hanival, this project, which involves the growing, processing, manufacture and marketing of organic cotton products in South Africa, will ultimately benefit South Africa's agricultural and textile sectors.
He says the project could also involve smaller-scale farmers through development programmes. It would give farmers the opportunity to help satisfy the growing international demand for food and textiles.
- Sake24.com
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