KARACHI: A senior official from the World Wildlife Fund-Pakistan (WWF-P) has emphasised the need to cultivate sustainable cotton varieties such as better cotton, organic cotton, and regenerative cotton, which can help reduce carbon footprint.

WWF-P Director General Hammad Naqi Khan made this statement on World Cotton Day on Monday.

He highlighted that Pakistan is the sixth-largest producer of cotton globally and has the third-largest cotton spinning capacity in Asia, with thousands of ginning and spinning units producing textile products from cotton, according to a press release.

Cotton is one of the most resource-intensive crops, he noted, but by adopting sustainable practices, cropping patterns can be transformed to protect natural resources.

“There is global concern about environmental issues, especially those linked to conventional agriculture, which largely relies on synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, and GMO seeds. Conventional cotton cultivation is associated with the extensive use of fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides that adversely affect the natural environment and significantly contribute to global warming. Given these risks to ecosystems, the need for producing organic cotton without harmful substances is paramount,” it said, adding: “Through the promotion of organic cotton farming, WWF-P is eliminating the use of chemicals, preserving the environment, and empowering cotton farmers for a healthier future.”

The press release also mentioned that WWF-P, in partnership with other organisations, has made significant strides in organic and regenerative cotton cultivation by engaging over 12,000 farmers and bringing around 43,000 hectares under organic cotton cultivation to help reduce environmental impacts.

In 2015-2016, recognising the scope and value of organic cotton cultivation, WWF-P launched a project to support small and marginalised tribal farmers in promoting organic cotton cultivation in Balochistan. The project achieved a significant milestone by producing Pakistan’s first certified organic cotton bale in 2018-2019. Since then, organic cotton initiatives have focused on building capacity for field staff and project farmers, engaging relevant stakeholders, complying with organic certification, and developing an organic cotton supply chain in Pakistan.

Currently, over 6,000 farmers are complying with organic cotton standards and producing certified organic cotton for the local textile industry, thus helping conserve the country’s foreign exchange. The collective efforts of all stakeholders led to the development of Balochistan’s Organic Agriculture Policy, recently approved by the provnicial government, which aims to provide a conducive environment for organic agriculture across the province.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2024