The British Cotton Growing Association (BCGA) was an organisation formed in 1902 from the various bodies connected with the Lancashire cotton industry which aimed to reduce that industry's dependence on supplies of raw cotton from the United States by promoting the development of cotton growing in the British Empire. It was described as a "semi-philanthropic" organisation, or combination of non-governmental organization, and a development agency, as it provided development funds without requiring any direct repayment, but did expect the Lancashire cotton industry to benefit indirectly in the longer term from the availability more secure cotton supplies.[1]
The Association's operations initially involved distributing those varieties of cotton seed which would produce the types of cotton its members required and providing expertise, both at no cost, in British protectorates and colonies where climatic and soil conditions were favourable for growing cotton and later began to supply machinery and act as a selling agent for growers. From 1921, the British Government became increasingly dissatisfied with its anomalous position as a non-state organisation undertaking activities which were regarded as proper to the colonial administration and, in 1927, a governmental agency, the Empire Cotton Growing Corporation, took over most of the BCGA's work although the Association continued to operate as a trade representational body.[2]