IKEA and WWF in Pakistan
Pakistan Sustainable Cotton Initiative
Cotton is an important cash crop and lifeline of the textile industry in Pakistan. The country is listed as the 4th largest producer in the world. In Pakistan, cotton is mainly grown on irrigated land and about 75% of imported pesticides have been used on cotton crops.
WWF Pakistan and IKEA are collaborating in a project to improve farmer livelihoods through the introduction of Better Management Practices (BMP) in one district -Bahawalpur - of Pakistan, ensuring sustainable improvement in the natural, financial, social and human capital available to the cotton farmers, and to promote its adoption throughout Pakistan and internationally.The Pakistan Sustainable Cotton Initiative also intends to reduce the reputation/supply chain risks of international buyers of cotton from Pakistan.
The goal of the joint project is to improve the sustainability of cotton production in Pakistan to benefit people and the environment.
The project's specific objectives are to:
- Get cotton farmers in Bahawalpur district of Southern Punjab province apply Better Management Practices (BMPs).
- Create an enabling environment at the district level, to facilitate and encourage the uptake and long-term use of BMPs at national and international levels.
Achievements
Nine participatory BMPs pertaining to tillage operations, sowing, irrigation, pest and fertility management have been developed and tested for cotton crops with farming communities, and are yielding encouraging results, and forming inspiration for farming communities. There has been 70% reduction in pest infestation, 60% reduction in pesticides, 30% reduction in fertilizers and 23% reduction in water use for cotton BMPs.Farmers who are not going through the Farmer Field Schools are adopting the BMPs without encouragement. BMPs have raised gross margins of cotton farmers through a reduction in input costs (agro-chemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) and irrigation water) and have led to better soil health. They have also decreased farmer dependency on informal credit facilities. In addition, health improvements of the farming families, and the return of bees, birds and natural pest predators has been observed.
The Provincial Departments of Agriculture Extension (AED) and Agriculture Research (ARD) have assured their full support. ARD is providing resource persons for the Farmer Field Schools and Integrated Pest Management. This commitment from government agencies indicates that they recognise the value of BMP implementation. Through their involvement in the project activities, the capacity of the Agriculture Extension staff has increased. The Provincial Extension Department of the Punjab has now placed emphasis on the Farmer Field School approach to outreach to a greater number of small-scale farmers.
