Supporting Sustainable Cotton with Pakistan’s Government of Punjab

Better Cotton has entered into a collaborative agreement with the Government of Punjab’s Agriculture Department, in Pakistan, to advance the production of more sustainable cotton in the province.

The five-year ‘Commitment of Cooperation’ stems from the government body’s desire to develop a science-based, internationally-linked agriculture sector capable of satisfying demand for food, feed and fibre.

As a lynchpin of the country’s economy, cotton is one commodity that will be integral to achieving this ambition. As such, the Agriculture Department is to develop a strategy focused on scaling the production of more sustainable cotton.

As of the 2021-22 season, Pakistan is the third-largest producer of Better Cotton globally. Almost half a million cotton farmers hold a Better Cotton license and have collectively produced more than 680,000 tonnes of the material for use by Retail and Brand Members.

The Agriculture Department sought Better Cotton’s expertise and support to help ensure resources and finances are fed down to the field-level, benefitting both farming communities and the environment.

Working closely with the government body, Better Cotton will help ensure participating farmers align with its Principles & Criteria (P&C) and commit to measuring and reporting results.

The Agriculture Department will, meanwhile, establish a timeline for implementation to ensure its allocation of resources and plan for mainstreaming the production of more sustainable cotton is futureproof, particularly in the face of climate change and its subsequent impacts.

The initial agreement is effective immediately and will conclude in June 2028.

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