Title: Farm level sustainable cotton supply chain management: an empirical study of Pakistan

Authors: Sonia Nazeer; Puwanart Fuggate; Muhammad Shafiq

Addresses: School of Logistic and Supply Chain, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand ' School of Logistic and Supply Chain, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand ' Faculty of Management Sciences, Foundation University Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract: Cotton is a highly non-sustainable crop due to the requirement for substantial amounts of water and energy resources in the overall supply chain, from farm to finished product. There is a need to assess the sustainability of the cotton supply chain management system which may be achieved through more reasonable use of inputs and resources, hence lesser environmental impact, while maintaining sustained income for farmers. This research investigates the current status of sustainability in the farm level cotton supply chain and explores the influence of sustainability paradigms (economic, environmental and social) on farmers' supply chain management decisions. A survey was held (157 small and medium level cotton farmers) and data was analysed using the SPSS software with descriptive statistics of t-test, correlations and regression analysis. Results shown that small and medium level farmers are only focused on using less expensive inputs, with little concern for environmental and social matters.

Keywords: sustainable cotton supply chain management; SCSCM; cotton supply chain management; CSCM; sustainable cotton critical success factors; farm level cotton supply chain; Pakistan.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2020.111384

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2020 Vol.37 No.3, pp.389 - 406

Received: 11 Jan 2019
Accepted: 17 Feb 2019
Published online: 25 Nov 2020 *

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