A group of journalists from print and electronic media visited World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan (WWF-P)'s Sustainable Agriculture Programme (SAP) in Bahawalpur. The purpose of the visit was to highlight SAP project interventions initiated over the years to promote sustainable agriculture from Sukkur to Jhang region.
The ongoing projects included Sustainable Cotton Production in Pakistan's Cotton Ginning SMEs; Pakistan Sustainable Cotton Initiative (PSCI) and Better Cotton Fast Track Fund (BCFTF). During the visit, journalists were briefed by Masood Khan, Project Co-ordinator, Sustainable Cotton Production in Pakistan's Cotton Ginning SMEs (SPRING), WWF-P, who highlighted the organisation's objectives and the importance to move towards sustainable agriculture.
He also emphasised the need to produce better cotton in Pakistan, as cotton was a water thirsty crop and had a large carbon footprint on the environment. He stressed that cotton should be produced sustainably, as it was the major foreign exchange crop of the country. He added that promoting and producing better cotton is not only beneficial for the economy but also contribute towards reducing our environmental footprint.
Environmental journalists also visited two ginning factories where they were briefed by Muhammad Abdullah, Ginning Specialist, SPRING, WWF-P, regarding the recommendations given by the SAP team to gin owners after detailed analysis of their factory, measures that will help save energy, improve ginning efficiency and waste management, and decent work practices.
The media team then visited the cotton fields where Nawab-ud-din, where Project Co-ordinator, PSCI briefed participants about decent work trainings given to the female cotton pickers and village women in order to create awareness about child labour, health and safety, promotion of education and precautionary measures for hazards on the farm.