January 30, 2012

Pakistan's cotton output to reach over 12.598 million bales

Pakistan's Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC) was informed on Thursday (Jan 26) that the crop output was estimated to hit more than 12.598 million bales at an average weight of 170 kg per bale during the crop season 2011-12.

Cotton production target was set at 14.01 million bales for the FY 2011-12 which was revised due to flash floods in the country and set at of 12.2 million bales.

The third meeting of the CCAC held here with Minister for Textile Industry, Makhdoom Shahabuddin in the chair to asses the final figures of crop-output in the country. The meeting was attended by stakeholders including farmers from all provinces, representatives of provincial governments, representatives of ministry of Textile Industry, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), Karachi Cotton Ginners Association (KCGA) and others.

The meeting was informed that cotton crop was cultivated over 7.924 million acres showing an increase of 2.86% where as in Punjab province sowing registered an increase of 0.67% and Sindh 12.25%. The meeting was informed that Punjab cotton production was estimated at 10.100 million bales, Sindh 2.400 million, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KPK) 0.006 million and Balochistan 0.92 million bales.

Secretary Ministry of Textile Industry, Shahid Rashid said that draft of cotton policy is finalizing by taking all the stakeholders on board to provide quality seed for enhancing per acre crop output. He said that Ministry of Textile Industry was working with provincial ministries to improve the regulations and amendments in law was required to provide qualitative seeds and other inputs for farmers to enhance per acre yield.

To protect the farmers and ensure the qualitative agri-inputs in the country three bills including seed bill, plants breeder right and pesticide bill were presented before the concerned authorities for approval. He informed that cotton export from the country was expected to cross one million bales mark during the current season and it was also sufficient for domestic consumption.

Progressive formers complaints about the low germination in seeds and adultrations in agri-inputs like fertilizers and pesticides in the country which were reducing their output. Cotton Development Commissioner, Dr Khalid Abdullah said that despite the torrential rains and flash floods in the cotton producing belt in the country, per acre plant population and cotton ball size has increased as compared to the last year's out-put, it was informed. Applying the better crop management, the disease incidents including cotton leaf curl virus (CLV) and overall insect attack on crop was recorded at lower level and under control, he added.