Colored cotton is a characteristic cotton variety that is naturally colored when wadding, and does not need printing and dyeing when processing. Since 1994, when it was tested and planted as a demonstration in Suzhou Town, after more than ten years of development, its area has been expanded year by year, its output has been continuously improved, its market prospect is broad, and its comparative benefits are obvious.

However, due to the fact that the growers are in a separate array, scattered planting, small scale, low degree of organization, and even adulteration during the acquisition process, resulting in a series of serious problems such as the decline of colored cotton quality and fiber mixing. In order to solve these prominent problems affecting the development of colored cotton industry, under the correct guidance of departments at all levels in Dunhuang, Gansu With the registration and approval of the Civil Affairs Bureau, Suzhou Town took the lead in organizing colored cotton growers to participate voluntarily, and established the colored cotton association of Suzhou Town in 2004.

Since its establishment, the Association has always insisted on providing growers with whole process services before, during and after production, actively carried out technical services, training, and organized enterprises to purchase, process and sell, effectively promoting the healthy and rapid development of colored cotton industry. In 2006, there were 2074 members, planting 16436 mu of colored cotton. The main methods are as follows:

??? 1、 Vigorously promote and guide, and do a good job in "quantity" articles

In order to strengthen the confidence of farmers in developing the colored cotton planting industry and further expand and strengthen the colored cotton industry, the Association, based on the principle of interest driven, vigorously publicized, actively guided, and took practical and effective measures to fully mobilize the enthusiasm of farmers in planting.

First, farmers are moved by calculating economic accounts. In order to let farmers truly understand and understand the economic benefits of planting colored cotton, the Association organized personnel to actively go into farmers' homes. Through face-to-face conversation and accounting, farmers clearly realized the benefit gap between planting white cotton and colored cotton, so that farmers saw hope and felt it was cost-effective to plant colored cotton.

Second, rely on the typical drive to reassure farmers. In order to enable farmers to fully understand and truly master the planting technology of colored cotton, and eliminate ideological concerns, on the one hand, actively encourage relatives and friends to try planting, so that farmers can feel the benefits and hopes are around. On the other hand, by taking the form of on-site observation and training, typical household experience exchange forum, etc., people around us talk about things around us, and people around us are moved by things around us, making farmers more confident and determined in planting colored cotton.

The third is to sign planting contracts to reassure farmers. In order to effectively resolve market risks and make farmers feel confident, the Association signed a planting contract with farmers, clearly specifying the purchase price, purchase time, purchase standard and purchase location of colored cotton, and implementing "three guarantees" services, namely, seed, technology and purchase, so that farmers can have a "reassurance".

Through increased publicity, accounting comparison, typical households' demonstration and signing of planting contracts, the Association fully mobilized the enthusiasm of farmers for planting. In 2006, the Association signed 2074 planting contracts with farmers to plant 16436 mu of colored cotton.

??? 2、 Strengthen service guidance and do a good job of "quality" article

In order to safeguard the vital interests of farmers, the Association has always put quality awareness and brand awareness throughout the whole process of colored cotton production and made every effort to do a good job in various service guidance.

First, do a good job of prenatal service. In accordance with the development principle of "one product for each household, one product for each group", the Association organized technical personnel to compile and print the High yield and High quality Cultural Technology Manual of Colored Cotton, which was distributed free of charge to each colored cotton grower to help farmers understand technology and operation before planting, and have seeds and agricultural resources when planting. Through holding technical lectures and training courses, and distributing scientific and technological publicity materials, the majority of farmers are trained.

Second, do a good job of service in production. During the production of colored cotton, the Association organized technicians to go into farmers' homes and fields for face-to-face guidance, and set up a hotline to provide technical advice and guidance.

The Association also invited two agronomists from the Provincial Academy of Agricultural Sciences as technical consultants to go deep into the field for on-site guidance. Through training and guidance services, not only the majority of farmers have mastered planting technology and improved planting level, but also the colored cotton produced has sufficient and even coloring, fiber growth, elasticity enhancement, and continuous improvement of quality and quality.

????? 3、 Broaden sales channels and do a good job in "sales"

The Association always adheres to the idea of "building a base in the field and expanding the market outside", follows the one-stop operation path of "production, service and sales", takes the market as the guidance, takes efficiency increase as the goal, and takes the Association as the link, and takes the path of "company+association+base+farmers" order agriculture.

On the one hand, we should strengthen publicity to attract customers. The Association made full use of the tourism resources and reception advantages of Dunhuang, and actively invited some newspaper editors and journalists to seize the opportunity to publicize the colored cotton in Suzhou.

At the same time, we also actively organized and participated in various scale conferences and investment fairs, which expanded the influence and reputation of colored cotton, and improved the popularity of Suzhou colored cotton. Many large colored cotton manufacturers, such as Beijing Tiancai, Jiangsu Dingguagua, Zhejiang Shuema, have established good and long-term cooperative partnerships with the Association. On the other hand, take the initiative to go out, go deep into colored cotton manufacturers to publicize products, introduce quality, understand the market, and sign colored cotton sales contracts with colored cotton manufacturers, which not only ensures the sales of colored cotton, but also resolves market risks and increases farmers' income.

In 2006, the Association signed more than 600 tons of lint supply and marketing contracts with manufacturers, and the Colored Cotton Association has truly become the organizer and protector of agricultural efficiency, farmers' income, and enterprise profits. ?

????? 4、 Standardize business management and do a good job in "brand" article

In order to standardize the transaction behavior, maintain the market order, and ensure the interests of farmers, the Association has taken effective protection measures.

First, clarify the rights and obligations of farmers and enterprises, and standardize production and operation behavior. The Association has helped enterprises and farmers standardize the contents of the contract by entrusting legal consultants. The contract terms clearly stipulate the rights and obligations of both farmers and enterprises, and clarify the product quality grade standards, purchase time, price, payment for goods and other specific matters, so that the production and operation behavior of both farmers and enterprises has rules to follow, It ensures that the legitimate rights and interests of enterprises and farmers are not infringed.

Second, the Association has formulated the Technical Regulations for Production of Colored Cotton in Suzhou Town and printed and distributed it to every farmer. The Technical Regulations specifies 21 technologies in five aspects, including planting, fertilization, pest control, and picking of colored cotton, making the production of colored cotton in the town standardized and high-quality.

Third, the Association elected a number of competent people with good influence and strong appeal to form management and supervision agencies such as the Council, the Board of Supervisors, and the Colored Cotton Quality Management Committee. During the acquisition process, the Association actively organized investigations, carried out patrol inspections, and severely cracked down on unfair competition behaviors such as adulteration, excessive moisture content, and pressure on grades and prices, Disputed issues were solved in a timely manner, ensuring the quality of colored cotton and standardizing the production behavior of farmers and enterprises.

The establishment and continuous development of Suzhou Colored Cotton Association has effectively combined small individuals into a large whole. Through all-round services, it has guided farmers to the market, built a bridge between farmers and enterprises, effectively played a positive role in linking, guiding, helping, spreading and leading, and effectively promoted the color cotton industry to specialization, scale Development of industrialization.

Editor in charge: Xu Qiyun