The Senegalese NGO Enda Pronat (http://pronat.enda.sn/) has been running an organic cotton project in Koussanar, 430km east of Dakar, since 1994. The cotton is now certified organic - which means a significant reduction of pesticide use in the region, and fair trade - which means producers receive a fair price and have acceptable working conditions. The farmers, who grow other crops such as fonio (a local cereal), indigo (for natural dyes), sesame and bissap, are grouped together as the Yakaar Niani Wulli Federation (http://www.yaniwulli.org/index.html).
In February 2008 I visited Koussanar and some surrounding villages for the first time in order to meet producers, and see fields, cotton spinning, weaving and local tailors.
In a Peul village
Spinning cotton
Weaving into strips
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