Organic cotton in Pakistan: policy analysis and recommendations
As the fourth largest cotton producer worldwide, cotton is an integral part of Pakistan’s economy contributing 9.5% of its gross domestic and serving as a core livelihood for 15 million cotton workers. In addition to bringing US$3.5 billion as foreign currency each year to the country, it provides crucial income to cotton-producing households, accounting for…
CABI in Pakistan showcases its work on cotton as part of World Cotton Day
CABI in Pakistan took the opportunity to showcase its work on cotton, as part of a special World Cotton Day event hosted by the Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) in Multan, which included details on how it supporting more than 32,000 cotton farmers, 52,000 cotton farm workers and 500 agriculture extension workers through its projects.
Conservation of beneficial insects through NEFR installation in cotton crop
Cotton crop is the main source to produce the fiber, cotton seed cake, and for animal feed to support an increase in milk production and oil in good quantities. The sticks of cotton crop also support in burning fires for cooking purpose in the rural areas of Pakistan in places where other resources are not…
‘Sowing the seeds’ for organic cotton in Pakistan
CABI, under its Cotton Advocacy for Policy and Seed (CAPAS) Project with funding from the C&A Foundation, is making good progress to support the procurement, production and certification of non-GMO cotton seed as well as the development of organic cotton policy in Pakistan.
CABI on cotton (part 2): The famous farmer and The compost king
In part one of ‘CABI on cotton’ we heard about 100 Pakistan cotton farmers, as part of CABI’s Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), attending a seminar on integrated pest management. In part two, we hear a couple of success stories from farmers on how taking part in BCI is helping them produce better cotton.
CABI on cotton (part 1): Farmer seminar on pest management
Cotton. How many of us come into daily contact (literally) with this wondrous natural fiber? Used in a huge array of materials, from the obvious clothing and cotton wool buds, to the less obvious products like cottonseed oils used to make soap, margarine, emulsifiers, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, rubber and plastics, the cotton plant is woven into…
Overcoming cotton insect/pests through Natural Enemies Field Reservoir (NEFR) technology in Pakistan
Cotton is one cash crop of Pakistan which is attacked by a number of pests including sucking (aphid, jassid, white fly) piercing (mites), cutting (white ant) and chewing (boll worms). Izhar Nabi Sehto of Kurkuli village, district Sanghar of Sindh province, said the only option that comes readily to the farmer’s mind when looking for a control…
Environmental impacts of Bt crops – on target or non-target?
Genetically modified crops containing a toxin gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis have been used by farmers for 11 years now. These Bt crops were designed to give the plants resistance to important pests. But might they also be harming non-target invertebrates? A study by Steven Naranjo of the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research…