Measuring What Matters: Gender Equity in Cotton Through M&E Systems

By Hardeep Desai, Global Head - Farm Programmes at CottonConnect South Asia Pvt Ltd.

Sustainability in cotton isn’t only about environmental practices—it’s also about people. At CottonConnect, gender equity is embedded into our approach to sustainable cotton production. We work directly with both male and female farmers and farm workers, ensuring they receive equal support, resources, and opportunities across the cotton cycle.

How are we assured that these are not just ideals but actually being put into practice? Through our Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (ME&L) systems, which are designed to capture progress, not just in implementation and adoption of various agricultural practices, but also in how inclusive and equitable those practices are.

Why Gender Matters in Cotton Farming

Women play a very crucial role in cotton farming, forming a significant part of the labour force, engaged in activities such as sowing, weeding and manual harvesting. In many of the farms we work with, women also have additional duties to their domestic responsibilities of looking after the household, managing the children, and taking care of the farm animals.

However, they face significant challenges, from limited access to resources, and are often under-paid in comparison to men, and often are under-represented in the decision-making process.

Across the cotton supply chain, CottonConnect works with thousands of farmers and farm workers, including both men and women. Our commitment goes beyond improving yield and soil health; we are equally focused on ensuring that every individual working in cotton has the opportunity to thrive.

Through our programmes, we promote:

• Women’s empowerment by giving access to information and knowledge development

• Equal wages for equal work

• Safe and healthy working conditions

• Equal access to training, tools, and decision-making opportunities.

• Active participation of female farmers and workers in every aspect of cotton production.

Gender equity is not just a matter of fairness—it is a driver of improved farm performance, smarter use of resources, and stronger, more resilient communities.

Helping Farmers Understand What to Measure

One of the ongoing challenges in M&E is ensuring that farmers understand the value of data collection and its impact on their day-to-day work. With the right tools and training, they begin to see how tracking their practices can lead to more informed decisions and better outcomes.

Through the training programmes, field demonstrations, and tailored educational materials, we guide farmers in monitoring regenerative and sustainable practices such as:

• Composting, vermicompost, and biochar

• Water management techniques

• Reduced use of pesticides and fertilizers

• Optimized spacing and adoption of short-duration cotton hybrids

Our approach is hands-on and timely. For instance, during the monsoon withdrawal — a critical period for cotton crops — we support farmers in planning irrigation more effectively, ensuring adequate moisture during boll formation. These practices are grounded in meaningful data — measuring inputs, yield, timing, and outcomes. Through demonstrations and seeing the impact of the practices year-on-year, their confidence is reinforced.

Drip on fields for precise irrigation.

More importantly, this support is inclusive. Men and women participate equally in these sessions, learning together, implementing changes, and leading by example on their farms.

Tracking Gender Equity on the Ground

Gender equity in agriculture becomes visible when the right indicators are in place. We start by ensuring women are present, included, and heard. Our monitoring systems track:

• Female participation in training sessions

• Adoption of sustainable practices by women

• Equal and fair wages

• Access to safety, health, and learning opportunities

  
  

We also engage male community members through gender sensitization sessions, fostering awareness and shared responsibility. These discussions are essential for shifting long-standing mindsets and building a more inclusive culture in cotton farming.

True gender equity is not limited to women’s participation—it reflects a broader community transformation.

Taking the Lessons Beyond Cotton

While our core work lies in cotton, the lessons we’ve learned are applicable across agriculture. Whether working with grains, vegetables, or pulses, integrating gender equity begins with intentional design and community collaboration.

We employ tools like Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) to understand local dynamics and co-create solutions that are practical, affordable, and scalable—especially for women.

Women Climate Change Ambassadors Programme

Our Women Climate Change Ambassadors programme has endeavoured to identify women and groom them as change leaders, who will further train other women in their community on:

• Awareness about climate change

• Training and awareness on climate resilience

• Developing alternative livelihoods to mitigate risks due to extreme climate effects on the farm, and diversify the source of income.

“Before, women were mainly involved in tasks like sowing, harvesting, weeding, or gathering fodder, with little or no awareness of climate change or how to address it. They often followed the instructions given by men without question. But now, women participate in all aspects of farming, working alongside men and contributing to decisions.”

Kaumudiben Satishbhai Tadavi, regenerative farmer and climate change ambassador from Gujarat.

Gender as a Cross-Cutting Priority

At CottonConnect, we approach gender as a cross-cutting priority, not a standalone initiative. Our core principles remain consistent:

• Engage the whole community

• Track meaningful progress

• Give credence to women’s voices

• Keep equity at the heart of every intervention

  
  

Looking Ahead

Gender equity in agriculture requires intention, action, and continuous learning. At CottonConnect, we’ve witnessed how these efforts lead to better outcomes—not just for individual women or farms, but for entire communities. It’s critical that we hear the voices from the start of the supply chain which is why we have commissioned two reviews on Women and Climate Change – Women in Cotton Report.

We remain committed to this journey—measuring what matters, improving where needed, and sharing our learnings to strengthen agricultural systems around the world.

If you’re working in agriculture and looking to integrate gender more meaningfully into your programmes, we would love to connect and collaborate.