The Organic Cotton Accelerator (OCA) gathered stakeholders in Lahore, Pakistan, and online this week as part of a series of similar events held across its program countries to discuss how to best promote the growth of organic cotton globally.
The meeting allowed members of the country’s value chain to discuss regional realities, foster collaboration and align priorities as they tap into Pakistan’s potential for organic cotton production. In Lahore, attendees focused on three priority areas for organic cotton: policy, financing and market development. Discussions explored how policies can support farmers in their transition to organic cultivation, how to collectively address challenges and how investment and accountability mechanisms can strengthen value chain transparency.
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OCA began working in Pakistan in 2022, seeing the country’s climate, arable land and strong existing textile industry as ideal conditions for its sustainable cotton-growing model. The organization works with local partners to provide farmers with access to non-genetically modified seed, agronomic and financial training, and reliable market linkages.
OCA also has introduced digital tools that have improved transparency and data collection in Pakistan, helping farmers make better-informed decisions. The organization also has focused on strengthening laboratory testing to ensure organic integrity with its adapted Organic Cotton Training Curriculum while also amplifying farmer voices through ongoing workshops and community engagement.
“In Pakistan, the transition to organic cotton is not just a shift in farming methods, it is a pathway to greater stability for farming communities,” said Rubab Zahra, OCA Pakistan country manager. “Our focus is on building a supply chain where farmers are supported, information is openly shared, and all partners work side by side. This collaborative approach is essential for delivering long-term resilience and ensuring Pakistan’s organic cotton sector continues to grow.”
For the 2025-2026 season, OCA projects that it will support more than 10,000 organic cotton farmers cultivating nearly 60,000 hectares of land in Baluchistan, Punjab and Sindh, producing approximately 16,000 metric tonnes of lint cotton.
Some of that growth has been fueled by partnerships such as the one OCA inked with textile manufacturer and knitwear exporter Kay & Emms Global, which has worked to promote organic cotton production in Pakistan through an initiative with Pakistan’s Rural Business Development Center.
OCA said this week’s meeting allowed representatives from diverse areas such as government, industry, farmers and finance to collaborate in real time to define exactly what it takes to scale organic cotton sustainability in Pakistan.
“We’re grateful to our local partners for welcoming us and for their commitment to organic cotton,” said Bart Vollaard, OCA’s executive director. “Collaboration like this sits at the heart of OCA’s mission. By bringing farmers, industry, policymakers, researchers and civil society together, we can strengthen local markets, create more opportunities for rural communities, and ensure Pakistan’s organic cotton earns the recognition it deserves.”
