Project Details.

The project titled “Study on Living Income and Economic Resilience in Better Cotton Programme Communities in Pakistan” was commissioned by Better Cotton (BC) Pakistan and implemented by Himat Consulting Pvt Ltd (HCPL). 

The study aimed to evaluate the gap between the actual incomes of smallholder cotton farming households and a "living income" necessary for a decent standard of living. Additionally, it assesses economic resilience—specifically, the capacity of these households to withstand and recover from shocks. The findings from this study informed Better Cotton’s 2030 strategy, which targets improved incomes and resilience for two million farmers. The study focuses on farming communities in Punjab and Sindh, incorporating a living income benchmark, assessment of existing household income, and evaluation of income resilience and diversification strategies. It includes both quantitative and qualitative components and aimed to deliver evidence-based, locally adaptable livelihood models to support smallholder farmers. 

HIMAT Consulting Pvt Ltd (HCPL) was responsible for the full design and execution of the Income & Resilience Study for the Better Cotton Programme in Pakistan. In the inception phase, HCPL conducted a desk review of relevant materials and adapted survey tools from a similar study in India. These tools—household income surveys, FGD and KII guides, and a price-check guide—were customized for Pakistan’s context and digitized using Kobo Toolbox. HCPL also recruited and trained 16 data collectors, ensuring gender balance, and submitted the detailed inception report to Better Cotton. During data collection, HCPL conducted quantitative surveys with 800 cotton farmers across eight districts in Punjab and Sindh, and qualitative research including 4 FGDs, 16 KIIs, and 6 stakeholder consultations. 

The field teams received intensive training, and quality assurance was maintained through real-time data checks, supervisor reviews, and daily debriefings. For the analysis phase, HCPL cleaned and analyzed data using SPSS, applying both descriptive and inferential statistics to estimate living income benchmarks, income gaps, and resilience indicators. Qualitative data was thematically analyzed to provide deeper contextual insights. 

Based on this, HCPL produced deliverables including recommendations for bridging income gaps, enhancing resilience, and introducing context-specific livelihood models. In the final phase, HCPL facilitated a validation workshop with Better Cotton and partners, incorporated feedback, and submitted the final report and presentation. Throughout the assignment, HCPL maintained strong quality control measures, ensured ethical data handling, and upheld confidentiality and gender-sensitive practices.