Pakistan produces Cotton in bulk through BCI technology

Pakistan produces Cotton in bulk through BCI technologyDirector Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Dr Zahid Mehmood said CCRI has planned the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) to produce certified cotton in bulk in Pakistan.

The BCI is a Geneva based international body that certifies cotton world after a three tier checking that the cotton was produced employing environment friendly technology was socially compliant that no child labour was involved and that women workers were paid in full and carry economic benefits for farmers.

Dr Zahid Mehmood chaired a consultative meeting on BCI cotton at CCRI in Multan. He said while addressing a meeting that “one million hectares of land would be brought under BCI production technology in 2020 to meet the demands of international brands”.

He said the prime objective behind the BCI is to meet the future demands of international buyers when they would require only BCI cotton in 2025.

Cotton commissioner and vice president of Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) Dr Khalid Abdullah said that Pakistan was moving forward to producing Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) certified cotton in bulk and a million hectares of land would be brought under BCI production technology in 2020 to meet demand of famous international brands.

He disclosed that Pakistan was the first country to produce BCI certified cotton five years ago and was maintaining momentum to move forward.

He further said that many NGOs and Punjab government were also working on BCI plan and targeted to bring one million hectares area under BCI certified cotton in 2020.

He added that the BCI initiative recently approved by the ministry of national food security would cover a part of the one million hectare target in five districts.