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Sustainable Production and Consumption
Partnership for sustainable rice production Improving livelihoods for farmers and seasonal workers in the basmati rice supply chain. HIGHLIGHTS • • • • • • • •
2,250 farmers and workers in Punjab, Pakistan, trained in sustainable rice cultivation. 25 grower organizations formed. 66% of the members in the grower organizations are women. 50% of leading positions in the organizations are held by women. Increased yields and higher price per kilogram of rice. 30% less water usage in the rice cultivation. 15% fewer CO2e emissions. Living wage assessment and buying practices program includes Axfood buyers.
What should a retail company do if a product turns out to be linked to human rights violations and unsuitable working conditions in its country of origin? Should the retailer stop purchasing the product? What if the producers’ livelihoods depend on this specific product? Instead of cutting the business, human rights risks can be addressed and livelihoods improved. Building alliances is an extremely important path towards driving such change. While rice is a staple food crop, providing more calories to the global population than any other food, its cultivation comes with social and environmental challenges. It is both a major contributor to and a victim of climate
change. Rice farmers play an important role in adapting new farming practices and food retailers play a vital role in supporting them in doing so. Axfoundation is involved in a long-term engagement in the public-private partnership project “Sustainable Rice in Pakistan” in collaboration with Axfood, Unil Norway, Oxfam, supplier Rol-Ryz and processing companies in Pakistan. Sustainable rice cultivation practices are being implemented, leading to improved working conditions and increased incomes for smallholder farmers and seasonal workers involved in the production of basmati rice sold under the Garant brand.