Pakistan accredited as first organic cotton bale

Pakistan’s first organic cotton bale harvested in Balochistan, as Pakistan is the fifth largest producer of cotton in the world and the third largest exporter of raw cotton. The ceremony for its certification was held at Kot Sabzal.

Pakistan accredited as first organic cotton bale

Engineer Zamrak Khan Balochistan’s Minister for Agriculture said the provincial government was dedicated to promte organic agriculture all the way through the region.

The harvesting of the cotton bale was made achievable due to the collaboration of Balochistan’s Department of Agriculture. The government was paying special attention to Balochistan. Balochistan would be mounting an organic agriculture policy soon.

WWF-Pakistan Director General Hamad Naqi Khan said, “We have made a major breakthrough in the cotton sector of the country that will benefit stakeholders and the overall economy of Pakistan.”

Secretary Agriculture Balochistan Khaleeq Nazar Kiyani appreciated the efforts of WWF-Pakistan and the Agriculture Extension team. “The certification is a step towards a more sustainable Pakistan. Production of organic cotton will boost the cotton sector into a new direction,”

A consultative workshop was conducted in which representatives from ginners, spinners, textiles, brokers and brands participated and presented their concerns regarding development of a tenable supply chain of organic cotton in Pakistan.

Cotton and its products contribute about 10 per cent to gross domestic product and 55 per cent to the foreign exchange earnings of the country.

Keeping in, the project is serving to get better livelihoods of smallholder cotton farmers by promoting organic cotton cultivation and expansion of its supply chain to bolster further.