Federal Minister calls sustainable farming a strategic pathway for rural livelihoods, export competitiveness and climate resilience
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s struggling cotton sector has a new direction — one rooted in sustainability, soil health and long‑term resilience. As global buyers increasingly demand environmentally responsible and traceable supply chains, policymakers and industry leaders are pushing regenerative agriculture as a central strategy to revive cotton production and safeguard rural livelihoods.
At a high‑level roundtable in Islamabad, convened by the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) in collaboration with the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain highlighted the urgent need to adopt regenerative farming practices to reverse decades of soil degradation, pest pressures, climate stress and declining yields that have hit the cotton belt.
“Regenerative agriculture is no longer a choice — it is a requirement for accessing global markets,” the minister told stakeholders, emphasizing that international brands now often require evidence of sustainable production and traceability as conditions for sourcing raw materials.
Cotton remains one of Pakistan’s most important cash crops, employing millions of smallholder farmers and feeding a textile sector that accounts for over half of national export revenues, but the sector has faced repeated setbacks due to climate variability, water stress, pests and soil health decline.
Under regenerative agriculture, farmers are encouraged to restore natural soil fertility, improve water‑use efficiency, diversify crop rotations, and reduce dependence on chemical inputs. These practices can improve long‑term productivity, lower input costs, and enhance farm incomes while meeting environmental and sustainability benchmarks increasingly mandated by global buyers.
The federal government is exploring support mechanisms — including financial incentives, targeted subsidies and technical extension services — to help farmers transition to more sustainable systems without risking short‑term incomes. Coordination with textile value chain partners is also underway to align standards and boost competitiveness.
Public‑private collaboration was highlighted as essential during the roundtable, with stakeholders calling for on‑ground implementation plans that support regenerative practices, strengthen traceability, and improve compliance with international sustainability frameworks. Experts say that adopting regenerative agriculture could be a game changer for Pakistan’s cotton sector, helping restore soil health, bolster resilience to climate pressures, attract sustainable market investment, and stabilize rural economies that depend heavily on cotton cultivation.
