STAFF REPORT IBD:  WWF – Pakistans Sustainable Agriculture Programme, has signed an MoU with Pakistan Cotton Standards Institute (PCSI). Purpose of this partnership is to introduce standardisation of cotton among the participating ginning SMEs and bring it at par with the internationally accepted standards for improving the competitiveness of Pakistans raw cotton as well as ensuring better returns to cotton farmers, ginners, spinners, exporters.

Pakistan is the 5th largest producer of cotton, 3rd largest exporter of the raw cotton, 4th largest consumer of cotton and largest exporter of cotton yarn.

WWF aims to expand its efforts to increase the supply chain and specifically target cotton ginning SMEs in Pakistan to ensure the development of a sustainable cotton supply chain from the farm to final product.

Despite its significance, cotton has a large environmental footprint. It consumes pesticides, chemical fertilizers and water in excess throughout the cropping cycle while at ginneries excessive use of energy and inefficient production processes are common.

Dr. Ghulam Akbar, Senior Director Programmes WWF – Pakistan, underlined that the promotion of better ginning practices for better quality cotton will work as an instrument of sustainability in the textile sector of Pakistan benefiting thousands of better cotton farmers, ginning SMEs and textile processing sector.

By Web Team

Technology Times Web team handles all matters relevant to website posting and management.