Cotton output to jump 127%

FCA projects cotton harvest at 11.5 million bales this season

ISLAMABAD:

The government has projected cotton production at 11.5 million bales from cultivation over an area of 2.4 million hectares this season, which shows a significant jump of 126.6% over output of last year.

The high-powered Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) met on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Dr Kauser Abdulla Malik.

The committee reviewed the performance of Kharif crops and production targets for Rabi crops (2023-24). It also discussed the situation of input supply for planting crops.

The committee was informed that cotton production for the season 2023-24 was provisionally estimated at 11.5 million bales from an area of 2.4 million hectares.

Rice production is estimated at 8.64 million tons from planting over an area of 3.35 million hectares, showing an increase of 18% and 12.7% respectively over last year. Moong bean production for 2023-24 is expected to reach 143,600 tons from sowing over an area of 198,000 hectares, up 6.4% in production and down 9.2% in area over last year.

Mash output is projected at 5,280 tons from an area of 7,360 hectares, displaying an increase of 24.65% and 12.95% in production and area over last year.

Chilli production for 2023-24 is estimated at 1,360 tons from an area of 122,100 hectares, showing an increase of 2.3% and 1.4% respectively over last year.

The committee fixed the wheat production target at 32.12 million tons over an area of 8.9 million hectares. Production targets for gram, potato, onion and tomato were set at 410, 6,330, 2,494 and 666 thousand tons respectively.

The FCA also discussed seed supply for Rabi crops and it was informed by the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department director general that certified seed availability would remain satisfactory.

For the Rabi 2023-24 sowing season, the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) advisory committee has anticipated 15% water shortage for Punjab and Sindh. Provinces are allocated 31.66 million acre feet of water.

“The prevailing weather conditions are supportive and the shortage is manageable,” the FCA was told.

The Metrological Department informed the meeting that normal to slightly above-normal precipitation was expected in most parts of the country, particularly in northwestern regions. However, slightly below normal rains are likely over plains of Punjab and Sindh during October.

“The temperature may remain above normal in most parts of the country,” it said.

The FCA was told that in order to stabilise the food security situation in the country, the government was trying its best to facilitate farmers by providing inputs at affordable prices. It is also making efforts to ensure a better price for their produce to bridge the gap between the cost of production and output prices.

In pursuance of the government’s agenda for the promotion of agriculture sector, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has set an annual indicative agricultural credit disbursement target of Rs2,250 billion for financial year 2023-24, which was 26.7% higher than last year’s disbursement of Rs1,776 billion.

During July-August 2023, the agricultural lending institutions disbursed Rs326 billion, which was 14.5% of the annual target and 44% higher than the disbursement of Rs226 billion made during the same period of last year.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 12^th, 2023.

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