Cotton Genomics and Genetics 2025, Vol.16, No.2, 80-94 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/cgg 84 sustainability. Improving labor equity can be achieved through both technology and institutions. On the one hand, the promotion of technologies such as mechanized harvesting reduces labor intensity while also reducing the large demand for temporary workers during the picking season, reducing potential irregular employment from the source. For example, in recent years, Xinjiang, China has vigorously promoted the mechanization of cotton production throughout the process, and by 2024, the comprehensive mechanization rate of cotton sowing and harvesting has reached 97%. Machine cotton picking has replaced the heavy manual cotton picking in the past, improving production efficiency and avoiding labor shortages and labor-capital disputes during peak employment periods. In countries such as South Asia, where the degree of mechanization is temporarily limited, the treatment of pickers can be improved by strengthening labor organization and contract norms. For example, it is encouraged to establish a cooperative for pickers or a labor intermediary platform, make the wages and payment process public, ensure that wages are paid on time and in full, and provide necessary protective equipment and medical insurance. On the other hand, the international market has increasingly stringent social responsibility requirements for the cotton supply chain. Brands and buyers promote the improvement of labor conditions upstream by performing due diligence. This pressure forces the governments and enterprises of the producing areas to improve their compliance awareness and protect the rights and interests of workers. Through third-party certification (such as fair trade cotton, responsible cotton standards, etc.), cotton field workers can obtain moral premiums in the market, thus forming an incentive mechanism. For example, cotton products that have obtained "Fair Trade" certification will promise to return the additional premium to the production community for public welfare projects such as education and medical care, which directly improves the welfare of local workers and their families. The improvement of labor fairness is not only a moral requirement, but also contributes to the long-term development of the industry. When cotton farmers and workers are reasonably rewarded and respected, their willingness to work and production enthusiasm will increase, and experience and skills will be accumulated and passed on, which provides a reliable human resource guarantee for sustainable production. 3.3 Market access and industry resilience Establishing a fair, transparent and profitable market system is a key driving force to encourage cotton farmers to adopt sustainable practices. Many sustainable cotton projects have designed market access incentives to allow cotton farmers who adopt good production methods to sell cotton at higher prices or more stable channels, thereby compensating for the risks of increased expenditure and reduced production that they may face during the transition period. For example, after farmers who join the BCI project obtain the "Better Cotton" license, their cotton can be sold as sustainable raw materials to textile companies participating in the project. Although BCI cotton is not directly distinguished from ordinary cotton in appearance, the brand has promised to gradually increase the proportion of BCI cotton purchases, which is equivalent to providing stable sales channels and market share for project cotton farmers. According to the Better Cotton 2023-2024 Annual Report, the production of "Better Cotton" in 2022-2023 reached 5.47 million tons, accounting for 22% of the global cotton supply. This shows that more and more market demand is leaning towards sustainable sources, and cotton farmers participating in the project have therefore enhanced sales guarantees. Market diversification is also an important aspect of improving risk resistance. Traditional small farmers often have a single sales channel and weak bargaining power, and are easily subject to middlemen and price fluctuations. To this end, some development projects help cotton farmers form cooperatives to directly connect with textile companies or exporters, reduce intermediaries and improve bargaining power. In addition, promoting the localization of the cotton textile industry is also one of the ways to enhance resilience. Developing spinning and weaving processing industries in cotton-producing countries can consume cotton locally, increase added value, and reduce dependence on single raw cotton exports. Gujarat and other places have established textile parks to attract investment in spinning mills, so that local cotton farmers have more diversified sales options and are no longer completely affected by international raw cotton price fluctuations. Finally, the improvement of financial support mechanisms can also help improve cotton farmers' ability to resist risks. Developing weather index insurance and price insurance suitable for small farmers can provide basic compensation in the event of disasters or price plunges. For example, cotton weather index insurance was introduced in pilot projects in Maharashtra and Gujarat, India, but the current insurance coverage rate is still low due to reasons such as awareness and procedures (Mahadevaswamy and Kotreshwar, 2018). In the
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