UNIDO to train cotton farmers in Egypt on sustainability
The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has launched a multi-stakeholder pilot project in Egypt, to traincottonfarmers on the Better Cotton Initiative’s holistic approach to sustainable cotton production. The pilot is a part of a renewed drive in thecountryto increase sustainability and improve conditions for Egyptian producers.
Funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the project is implemented by UNIDO in collaboration with the ministry of trade and industry, the ministry of agriculture and land reclamation as well as with local and international textile private sector stakeholders. The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), in coordination with selected Implementing partners, will support UNIDO on the activation of the pilot in select areas in Egypt during the 2018-19 cotton season. BCI will provide guidance, share knowledge, develop materials and provide relevant agricultural and cotton experts.
Approximately 5,000 smallholder cotton farmers will be involved in the initial pilot project, receiving training on the Better Cotton principles and criteria. By adhering to these principles, existing (licensed) BCI farmers round the world produce cotton in a way that is measurably better for the environment and farming communities, BCI said in a press release.
“BCI supports all initiatives that seek to make cotton production more sustainable. Egyptian cotton is longstaplecotton grown by smallholder farmers. Making the Better Cotton Standard System accessible to smallholder farmers is BCI’s priority – 99 per cent of the farmers BCI works with today are smallholders,” said Alia Malik, Director of Implementation at BCI.
Once the pilot is complete, and in coordination with relevant Egyptian governmental entities and private sector stakeholders, UNIDO and BCI will explore the possibility of supporting the start-up of a direct BCI Programme in Egypt, the release added.
译文如下:
联合国工业发展组织将培训埃及棉农可持续发展
联合国工业发展组织(UNIDO)在埃及启动了一个多方利益攸关方的试点项目,培训棉农了解“更好的棉花倡议”全面实现棉花可持续生产的方法。这一试点是埃及为提高可持续性和改善埃及生产商条件而进行的新一轮努力的一部分。
该项目由意大利发展合作署资助,由工业发展组织与贸易和工业部、农业和土地复垦部以及当地和国际纺织私营部门利益攸关方合作执行。更好棉花的倡议(BCI)将与选定的实施伙伴协调,支持工发组织在2018-19棉花季在埃及选定地区启动试点。BCI将提供指导,分享知识,开发材料并提供相关的农业和棉花专家。
大约5 000名小棉农将参与初步试验项目,接受关于更好的棉花原则和标准的培训。BCI在一份新闻稿中说,通过坚持这些原则,世界各地现有的(有执照的)BCI农民生产棉花的方式对环境和农业社区都有明显的好处。
“BCI支持所有旨在使棉花生产更具可持续性的举措。埃及棉花是小农长期种植的棉花。让小农能够获得更好的棉花标准体系,是BCI的优先任务——BCI目前与之合作的99%的农民都是小农,”BCI执行主管Alia Malik表示。
新闻稿还说,一旦试验完成,并与埃及有关政府实体和私营部门利益攸关方协调,工业发展组织和BCI将探讨支持在埃及启动BCI直接方案的可能性。
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