LAHORE: All-Pakis­tan Textile Mills Assoc­iation (Aptma) is preparing a proposal for funding the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) from the Export Development Fund (EDF).

Pakistan is a leading producer of BCI cotton as around 163,000 metric tonnes of cotton is grown and processed with BCI standards as of Dec 2013.

Aptma Punjab chapter acting chairman Syed Ali Ahsan said on Tuesday that sustainability-led init­ia­tive would help boost textile exports across the textile value chain from farm to fashion to foreign trade.

He said the BCI was aimed at promoting mea­s­u­rable improvements in key environmental and social impacts of cotton cultivation worldwide and Aptma has been am­ong founder members of the BCI Steering Com­m­i­ttee since last four years.

He said the farmers have reduced water use by 20 per cent, pesticide use by 50pc and fertiliser application by 33pc after BCI. Similarly, farmers have also increased their overall net revenue by 35pc.

Published in Dawn, June 25th, 2014