Rains could disrupt cotton sowing, hit production
So far, 75% of cultivation target has been achieved
So far, 75% of cultivation target has been achieved. PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
Heavy pre-monsoon rains, which are forecast to lash different parts of the country anytime during the current month, are feared to disrupt ongoing cotton planting and ultimately hurt production of the major cash crop this season too.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Cotton Commissioner in the Ministry of Textile Industry Khalid Abdullah revealed that 75% of the sowing target had been achieved so far with 74% of the target in Punjab and 69% in Sindh. “Sowing is still continuing in the cotton-growing areas but at a slow pace,” he said.
Pointing to recent prediction of the Pakistan Meteorological Department about heavy pre-monsoon rains, he said they were likely to affect cultivation of the crop in major fields of Sindh and Punjab - the two main cotton-growing provinces.
“If cotton sowing is affected by the showers, then it will ultimately hit the overall crop production,” he remarked.
In the previous season, cotton output had dropped about 40%, prompting large-scale imports to meet the need of industries.
However, Abdullah voiced the hope that measures taken for the support of farmers in the recent budget announcement, particularly the reduction in fertiliser and pesticide costs, would help recover cotton harvest as more farmers would grow the crop.
He also pointed out that the Punjab government had established the Cotton Crop Management Group, headed by the provincial minister of agriculture, to develop effective policies for the promotion of cotton crop in the province.
This committee has held its first meeting in the current week and the next huddle is slated for June 16.
According to figures quoted in the federal budget, cotton output fell 28% last year because of rains during sowing followed by high temperature and other reasons at the later stage.
The government also attributed the decline in the overall agriculture sector to the hefty fall in cotton production.
Keeping this in view, it announced an incentive package for the farmers including a reduction in prices of urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilisers, pesticides and power tariff for tube wells as well as increase in the credit limit.
However, certain quarters contest government’s estimate of the 28% drop in cotton output, saying production has actually gone down 40% to 45%.
“Cotton harvest shrank more than 40% and the government changed the figure to show a better performance. Owing to the loss suffered by the farmers last year, they have reduced cultivation by 30% this season,” said Ibrahim Mughal, a leader of farmers.
He held substandard seeds of Bt cotton more responsible for damage to the crop than the impact of climate change, saying the authorities led by the secretary agriculture provided substandard seeds to promote sales of a multinational company.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2016.
Heavy pre-monsoon rains, which are forecast to lash different parts of the country anytime during the current month, are feared to disrupt ongoing cotton planting and ultimately hurt production of the major cash crop this season too.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Cotton Commissioner in the Ministry of Textile Industry Khalid Abdullah revealed that 75% of the sowing target had been achieved so far with 74% of the target in Punjab and 69% in Sindh. “Sowing is still continuing in the cotton-growing areas but at a slow pace,” he said.
Pointing to recent prediction of the Pakistan Meteorological Department about heavy pre-monsoon rains, he said they were likely to affect cultivation of the crop in major fields of Sindh and Punjab - the two main cotton-growing provinces.
“If cotton sowing is affected by the showers, then it will ultimately hit the overall crop production,” he remarked.
In the previous season, cotton output had dropped about 40%, prompting large-scale imports to meet the need of industries.
However, Abdullah voiced the hope that measures taken for the support of farmers in the recent budget announcement, particularly the reduction in fertiliser and pesticide costs, would help recover cotton harvest as more farmers would grow the crop.
He also pointed out that the Punjab government had established the Cotton Crop Management Group, headed by the provincial minister of agriculture, to develop effective policies for the promotion of cotton crop in the province.
This committee has held its first meeting in the current week and the next huddle is slated for June 16.
According to figures quoted in the federal budget, cotton output fell 28% last year because of rains during sowing followed by high temperature and other reasons at the later stage.
The government also attributed the decline in the overall agriculture sector to the hefty fall in cotton production.
Keeping this in view, it announced an incentive package for the farmers including a reduction in prices of urea and di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) fertilisers, pesticides and power tariff for tube wells as well as increase in the credit limit.
However, certain quarters contest government’s estimate of the 28% drop in cotton output, saying production has actually gone down 40% to 45%.
“Cotton harvest shrank more than 40% and the government changed the figure to show a better performance. Owing to the loss suffered by the farmers last year, they have reduced cultivation by 30% this season,” said Ibrahim Mughal, a leader of farmers.
He held substandard seeds of Bt cotton more responsible for damage to the crop than the impact of climate change, saying the authorities led by the secretary agriculture provided substandard seeds to promote sales of a multinational company.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2016.