Article Abstract

Volume 35, No. (1), 2025 (February)
SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS OF BETTER COTTON: A CLEANER AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION ALTERNATIVE IN PAKISTAN
Hafiz Zahid Mehmood, Azhar Abbas, Abdulazeez Hudu Wudil, Raza Ullah

H. Z. Mehmood¹*, A. Abbas², A. H. Wudil³, R. Ullah⁴

¹ Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan,
² Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad,
³ Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension, Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria,
⁴ Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad,

Corresponding Author: zahid.mehmood@mnsuam.edu.pk
Page Number(s): 80-89
Published Online First: December 21, 2024
Publication Date: February 18, 2025
ABSTRACT

The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) program is seen as a sustainable approach to cotton production in Pakistan. It trains its farmers to adapt to climate change and increase profits by efficient resource allocation. This paper analyses the resource allocation, profitability, and economic uplift of BCI farmers in comparison to non-BCI farmers. Primary data were collected from three districts of Punjab province. The results showed that the land area under cotton, land preparation cost, seed and sowing cost, irrigation cost, fertilizer cost, pesticide cost, thinning cost-plus weeding cost are positively associated with the profit of BCI farmers, whereas picking cost negatively affects the profit of BCI farmers. In the case of non-BCI farmers, the area under cotton and seed and sowing costs were positively associated with the profit. In contrast, land preparation costs, irrigation costs, fertilizer costs, and pesticide costs were negatively associated with the profit. Poverty incidence, depth, and severity among different socio-economic categories of farmers is lower among BCI farmers compared to non-BCI farmers. Therefore, the BCI program prevents overutilization of inputs by maintaining judicious use of resources. Supporting the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) program can make better cotton a mainstream and long-term product in Pakistan.

Keywords: Sustainable cotton production, economic uplift, poverty incidence, impact analysis

Indexing

Web of Science (SCIE)

SCOPUS (Q3)

Status

Journal Metrics

Journal Impact Factor: 0.5 | (JCR Year: 2025) | Cite Score: 1.3

HEC Category: W

Current

ISSN Details

Print ISSN: 1018-7081

Electronic ISSN: 2309-8694

Verified
Search the Journal

Use the fields below to search for articles by Title, Author, or Keywords.