Primark plans to expand the Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme to encompass suppliers in Pakistan. The retailer plans to enroll 30,000 farmers on the programme by 2022, receiving training and support in order to successfully provide Primark with cotton that adheres to its sustainability criteria.
The Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme was established to train and support smallholder farmers in the application of ‘sustainable’ farming methods. In association with CottonConnect, growers are educated on the most appropriate farming techniques for their land. This advice covers topics including seed selection, sowing, soil, water, pesticides and pest management, picking, fibre quality, grading and storage of harvested crop.
The initial roll-out of the programme began in 2013 and was exclusive to India, with over 6,000 independent farmers in Gujarat working with the programme pioneered by the high street retailer. On average, Primark claims, profits increased by almost 200 per cent for those who completed training; a figure which almost certainly makes the initiative easy to sell to many independent Pakistani growers. In the next phase of development, Primark worked alongside CottonConnect and REEDS to introduce the programme into Pakistan.
