Regenagri Fast Track initiative to transform India’s cotton sector through regenerative agriculture

Recognizing the urgent need to boost climate resilience for India’s small cotton farmers, Solidaridad Asia and WWF, India have jointly launched the Regenagri Fast Track initiative to transform India’s cotton sector through the large-scale adoption of regenerative agriculture. Backed by a €6 million Regenerative Fast Track Cotton Fund, the program seeks to establish regenerative farming as the new sustainability standard for Indian cotton while simultaneously improving farmer incomes and protecting ecological systems.

The fund aims to enhance net income and climate resilience for one million smallholder farmers and farm workers, demonstrating a scalable model for sustainable rural growth. India, the world’s second-largest cotton producer with 13 million hectare under cultivation, relies heavily on the crop for its textile-driven economy. However, climate change, soil degradation, and unsustainable farming practices are increasingly threatening yields, biodiversity, and farmer livelihoods, pushing the sector to a critical crossroads. Experts highlighted that smallholders remain the most vulnerable, emphasizing the necessity for immediate adoption of climate-resilient practices.

Regenerative agriculture offers a powerful solution through practices such as intercropping, cover cropping, mulching, crop residue management, and agroforestry.

These methods restore soil health, boost biodiversity, enhance climate resilience, and have been shown to increase productivity and farmer income. The Regenagri Fast Track Cotton Fund aims to create a measurable impact by transitioning large areas of farmland to regenerative methods, reducing carbon emissions, and ensuring global supply chains have access to credible, verified regenerative cotton.