About CG Farmer Foundation
We are a global non-profit organisation dedicated to the future of sustainable cotton empowering farmers, protecting ecosystems, and connecting responsible brands with verified sustainable cotton across India.
Who we are!
CG Farmer Foundation is a farmer-first, impact-driven NGO working to improve the lives and livelihoods of smallholder cotton farmers, tribal women, and rural farming communities. Built on CottonGuru’s long-standing legacy and deep trust in the cotton value chain, the Foundation acts as a bridge between farmers, corporates, foundations, institutions, and development partners.
Our purpose is to become the most reliable and sought-after NGO for projects related to cotton, smallholder farmer welfare, tribal women empowerment, sustainable agriculture, and the transition from chemical-intensive farming to natural, organic, regenerative, and climate-resilient practices.
CG Farmer Foundation works at the intersection of agriculture, livelihoods, women empowerment, sustainability, and rural development. We believe that the future of cotton must be profitable for farmers, responsible for the environment, and inclusive for rural women.
Mission, Vision & Core Values
Our Mission
CG Farmer Foundation’s mission is to improve the livelihoods, dignity, and resilience of smallholder cotton farmers and tribal women by promoting sustainable agriculture, natural and organic farming, women-led development, and strong farmer institutions.
We work to ensure that farmers receive the knowledge, tools, market access, and institutional support required to build profitable and climate-resilient cotton farming systems.
Our mission is guided by one belief: when farmers prosper, rural communities prosper.
Our Vision
A world where cotton production is environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially responsible, where every cotton farmer has the knowledge, support, and opportunity to thrive while caring for the land they cultivate.
Sustainable Development Goals
Alignment of our programmes and partnerships with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
SDG 1 — No Poverty
For smallholder cotton farmers, poverty is often linked to low productivity, high input costs, uncertain prices and limited access to organised markets. CG Foundation works to improve farmer income by supporting better farming practices, reducing avoidable input costs, strengthening FPOs and improving access to markets.
Our programmes focus on helping farmers make cotton cultivation more profitable and less risky. This includes farmer training, Pradarshan Khets, natural and organic farming transition, soil-health interventions, market linkage support and livelihood-focused project design.
- Improving farmer income through better productivity and quality
- Reducing dependency on costly chemical inputs
- Supporting FPOs for collective strength and market access
- Creating livelihood opportunities through climate and soil-health projects
- Helping farmers build more stable and resilient income sources
SDG 2 — Zero Hunger
Supporting sustainable agriculture and stronger farming systems Food and livelihood security both depend on healthy farms. In cotton-growing regions, soil degradation, water stress and high chemical dependency can weaken farm resilience over time. CG Foundation supports sustainable agriculture by helping farmers move towards natural, organic, regenerative and climate-resilient practices.
The work includes soil health improvement, composting, biochar, crop-residue management, water conservation and farmer training. These interventions help farmers take better care of their land while improving the long-term strength of farming systems.
Our focus under this goal
- Promoting sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture
- Improving soil health and soil organic matter
- Supporting natural, organic and regenerative farming practices
- Training farmers on better agronomic practices
- Encouraging practical solutions that make farms more resilient
SDG 4 — Quality Education
Quality Education is the foundation for sustainable development, empowering individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to build better lives and stronger communities. We are committed to ensuring inclusive, equitable, and accessible learning opportunities for children, youth, women, and farmers through education, digital literacy, skill development, and awareness programs. By promoting lifelong learning and practical knowledge, we help individuals improve their livelihoods, make informed decisions, and contribute positively to society.
- Promote inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
- Improve access to primary, secondary, and vocational education.
- Support digital literacy and technology-enabled learning.
- Conduct farmer education and sustainable agriculture training programs.
- Organize skill development and capacity-building workshops.
- Encourage lifelong learning and continuous knowledge enhancement.
SDG 5 — Gender Equality
Empowering rural women as leaders and earners
Women are deeply involved in cotton farming, but their role is often under-recognised. CG Foundation works to create leadership and livelihood opportunities for tribal and rural women through Krishi-Sakhi programmes, training, community enterprises and clean-agriculture initiatives.
Krishi-Sakhis act as trusted women leaders within farming communities. They support awareness, farmer mobilisation, responsible practices and local-level adoption. The aim is to move women from being seen only as farm labour to being recognised as advisors, trainers, micro-entrepreneurs and community leaders.
Our focus under this goal
- Training rural women as Krishi-Sakhis and community leaders
- Creating women-led livelihood opportunities
- Supporting women’s role in farmer awareness and adoption
- Building skills in clean agriculture, nursery work and bio-input preparation
- Strengthening women’s participation in rural development programmes
SDG 8 — Decent Work and Economic Growth
Creating rural employment and stronger local institutions
Rural economic growth depends on more than crop production. Farmers need stronger institutions, better market access, local enterprise opportunities and dignified work. CG Foundation supports this through FPO strengthening, farmer capacity building, Krishi-Sakhi programmes, skill development and community-based livelihood models.
By working with farmers, women, FPOs and local project teams, the Foundation helps create practical work opportunities around sustainable agriculture, climate action, biochar, demonstration farms, market linkages and field-level project implementation.
Our focus under this goal
- Strengthening FPOs and farmer groups
- Supporting rural entrepreneurship and skill development
- Creating community-based livelihood models
- Improving farmer access to markets and organised value chains
- Building local capacity for long-term rural economic growth
SDG 13 — Climate Action
Building climate-positive cotton communities
Cotton farmers are already dealing with climate stress through irregular rainfall, water scarcity, soil degradation and crop uncertainty. CG Foundation supports climate action by helping farmers adopt low-carbon farming practices, biochar, composting, water conservation and climate-resilient cotton systems.
The Foundation’s climate work is designed to be practical for farmers. It focuses on solutions that can be adopted in the field, improve soil and water resilience, reduce residue burning and support long-term climate-positive farming communities.
Our focus under this goal :
- Promoting low-carbon and climate-resilient cotton systems
- Supporting biochar and composting
- Reducing crop-residue burning
- Improving soil and water resilience
- Helping farmers adapt to climate stress through practical field interventions
SDG 15 — Life on Land
Restoring soil, biodiversity and farm ecosystems
Healthy land is the base of every farming community. CG Foundation works to improve soil health, biodiversity and sustainable land management in cotton-growing regions. This includes natural farming, organic practices, composting, biochar, water conservation and better crop-residue use.
The aim is to help farmers rebuild the strength of their soil and reduce practices that damage land over time. By improving soil organic matter, water retention and farm-level ecology, the Foundation supports both farmer livelihoods and the environment.
Our focus under this goal :
- Improving soil health in cotton-growing areas
- Supporting biodiversity-friendly farming practices
- Promoting sustainable land management
- Encouraging composting, biochar and organic matter improvement
- Reducing harmful residue-burning practices
SDG 17 — Partnerships for the Goals
Achieving sustainable development requires strong collaboration between communities, governments, businesses, academic institutions, NGOs, and development partners. CG Foundation fosters strategic partnerships that combine expertise, innovation, and resources to create scalable, measurable, and long-term impact. Through collaborative initiatives, CSR programmes, knowledge sharing, and multi-stakeholder engagement, we work together to strengthen rural livelihoods, promote sustainable agriculture, and accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Our Focus Under This Goal
- Building strategic partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, CSR partners, and academic institutions.
- Mobilising financial, technical, and knowledge resources for sustainable development.
- Promoting collaborative programmes that improve rural livelihoods and farmer resilience.
- Encouraging innovation, research, and technology transfer for sustainable agriculture.
- Strengthening community participation through inclusive stakeholder engagement.
Awards & Achievements
Over two decades of transformative work, Cottonguru Group has been honoured by leading global and national bodies for its impact on sustainable cotton, farmer livelihoods, and climate action across India.
Associated Organisations
Three complementary organisations, one shared mission — advancing sustainable cotton and rural prosperity across India.
CottonGuru Media
India's dedicated cotton media platform — delivering industry news, research publications, sustainability stories, and strategic communication across the cotton value chain.
CottonGuru
A comprehensive knowledge resource and advisory platform for India's cotton sector — providing expertise, market insights and best practices.
All India Cotton FPO Association
Empowering cotton Farmer Producer Organisations across India — facilitating collective bargaining, agriculture support services and market linkages.