Sourcery: Pakistani Cotton Growers (Farmers) Fund

Hello,

We are Sourcery, www.thesourcery.io--a full-service global sourcing agency that connects brands, suppliers and growers (cotton farmers) who are committed to transforming trade by advancing commercial and environmental excellence.

Pakistan Needs You

As you have likely heard or seen, Pakistan has experienced an unprecedented monsoon season that has included torrential downpours (500-600 mm) and massive widespread flooding across villages and towns. Exacerbated by climate change, this man-made unnatural disaster followed weeks of intense heat of 45° celsius (~114° Fahrenheit) and the monsoons and flooding has killed thousands of people, destroyed villages, communities, and fertile farmland for millions of farmers and their families who depend on their land for their food and livelihoods.

It is estimated that Pakistan will lose an estimated 45% of its cotton crop this year and much of is rice crop.

Farmers, Fibre and Families

As a sourcing agency in fashion and textiles, we recognize that this is not just the loss of fibre for our industry that thousands of suppliers and brands depend on to make the textiles and clothing that consumers to wear. More importantly, this 45% equates to millions of farmers and their families whose livelihoods also depend on cotton as their primary cash crop and because of this tradgedy, these farmers will not have the money they need to survive or food to eat from the other crops (vegetables, fruits, etc.) sowed along with cotton.

Unlike growers in other parts of the world, these growers don't have crop insurance, savings or a safety net, etc. and it will take them a generation or more to recover their losses from one year of crop failure. Many won't recover at all.

One Hundred Farming Families

We are certain that in the coming weeks, the government of Pakistan, international aid organisations, family offices and non-profits (probably a number of brands, retailers and suppliers) will be pouring in millions of donations and funds in the coming weeks to help Pakistan--yet often these funds often get trapped in administrative bureaucracy or slowed by misuse/mismanagement and do not reach the people who need support immediately.

Sourcery is asking for you, our Partners, clients, family and friends to consider consider donating funds to support these farmers and rural communities.

We are looking to suppor 100 farming families bt raising 30,000 EUR. Typically, a farmer in Pakistan will make about USD $300/season from selling his/her cotton.

We realise that 100 farming families is inconsequential when millions of farming families throughout Pakistan are facing hardship, yet we believe it is symbolic because we want to highlight the people behind the cotton we use for fibres and textiles whose livlihoods depend on cotton. The $300 will be essential to restore their lives, land and livlihoods over the coming year.

We hope to raise these funds in 30 days (30 September) so we can distribute them as quickly as possible.

Can we count on you? $3, $30, $300, $3000--your generosity is appreciated.

Our Promise

As an organisation, we are standard agnostic and commercially neutral which allows us to focus on farmers, fibres and suppliers (regardless of affiliation and agronomic practices) first and foremost. This allows us to be fully transparent, fair and efficient in everything we do. Therefore, we ensure that this fundraiser is not done to further our Partner's (clients) commercial interests or our own.

As such, Sourcery will only send funds to a fully vetted and trusted organisation(s) (TBD, suggestions welcome) approved by you (donors) that is neutral to the cotton/commodity trade in Pakistan yet are fully committed to supporting these rural agricultural communities.

We will ensure that none of funds raised will go to adminstrative costs, but directly to farmers only in cash (with receipt) or if possible via electronic transfer. If we do not feel confident, the Sourcery team in Pakistan, at its own expense, will this distribute these funds directly to farmers on behalf of donors.

Fund Use

The farmers can use the money how they see fit (no time for colonial micromangement). We of course hope that the money donated will be used for food, shelter, fun and restoring the farmers homes, farms and livlihoods.

We plan to capture the following information for all growers who are recipients of these funds*:

*Funds received via this campaign will be remitted to the personal account of Sourcery. Sourcery will be responsible for the remittance of funds to WWF-Pakistan and will notify all funders of the transfer if requested.

We believe farmers are the most indispensable people on the face of this planet--and certainly for an industry that we work in (fibres and textiles) cotton is an essential fibre that beloved by all.

Thanks, Team Sourcery

Imran, Ruchita, Mrinalini, Dipak, Amey and Crispin

Read and Learn more here:

https://sourcingjournal.com/topics/sourcing/hm-foundation-pakistan-flooding-monsoon-relief-remake-sourcery-cotton-farmers-369959/

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6971416453711286273/

https://apparelinsider.com/pakistan-floods-could-cost-45-of-cotton-crop/

https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/pakistan-flood-damage-estimated-at-5-5-billion-says-local-media-122082800355_1.html

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2373487/irreparable-damage-to-cotton-crop