Textile sector irked by low cotton yield

Says government’s lack of focus to enhance yield is deplorable

The textile industry has termed the government’s lack of focus to enhance cotton yield, to support the entire value added textile chain, highly shocking and deplorable.

Data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed that during the last decade, Pakistan’s annual cotton production decreased by approximately 35.42%, from 9.6 million 480 pound bales in 2009-10 to 6.2 million 480 pound bales in 2019-20. It also revealed that cotton yield dropped by about 20.95% to 551 kg per hectare in 2019-20. The yield stood at 697 kg per hectare in 2009-10.

“The worsening situation is purportedly due to supply of sub-standard cotton seeds to farmers, which caused colossal losses to Pakistan in terms of water, land, labour, yield, electricity besides financial losses to farmers,” said Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA) Central Chairman Mohammad Riaz Ahmed.

It is crucial for the government to take all practical steps to enhance national cotton produce to meet targets set for enhancement of textile exports in the Strategic Trade Policy Framework, he said.

Moreover, he called upon the leadership to make it compulsory for large spinning units, having more than 30,000 spindles, to grow their own cotton in a bid to manufacture yarn. The official further demanded government’s support in this regard.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Apparel Forum Chairman Jawed Bilwani said a huge amount of export orders were available with the value added textile sectors but exporters were unable to confirm them due to unavailability of cotton yarn in the country at competitive prices.

He urged the government to take immediate notice of provision of sub-standard cotton seeds to farmers by the suppliers and called for strict action against them.

“Keeping in view such state of affairs, the government should allow import of 32 single yarn and below without any duties and taxes,” he said. “In addition, exporters, manufacturers and importers should be given full liberty to import yarn from any country till its scarcity is contained and required quantity of yarn is available in abundance all across Pakistan.”

Sindh Abadgar Board Senior Vice President Mahmood Nawaz Shah called for fresh import of cotton seeds or research and development of local seeds. Genetically modified organism (GMO) cotton seed should be considered for Pakistan similar to how India allowed it after assessing pros and cons.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 25^th, 2020.

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