Cotton zones hit hard by recent floods

The cotton crop across key growing zones has been hit hard by recent rains and floods, raising fears that Pakistan may once again fail to achieve its dream of bumper cotton production in the 2025-26 cotton year.

Alongside flood and rain damage, virus attacks have also been reported in parts of Sindh and in Punjab's cotton belt with underground freshwater reserves. Therefore, the true scale of losses to the cotton crop can only be assessed once the rains and flooding subside.

Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ihsanul Haq told The Express Tribune that this year's cotton season began on a highly encouraging note across all zones of Pakistan, with some areas of Punjab and Sindh witnessing the earliest cotton ginning season in May — the first such occurrence in the country's history.

Expectations were high that cotton production would rise by 20-25% compared to last year. However, unexpected rainfall, elevated temperatures especially at night, humidity, and virus attacks have hampered crop growth, sparking fears of reduced per-acre yields.

"Punjab's cotton crop has suffered the most damage, particularly in Bahawalnagar — the province's largest cotton-producing district — where an estimated 40% of the crop has already been destroyed."

He said with more rain and floods forecast over the next few days, further losses are expected.

"In areas with underground freshwater, locally known as Kacha lands, excessive cultivation of sugarcane compared to previous years has worsened environmental stress, leaving cotton more vulnerable to virus attacks," he added.

According to weather forecasts, more rainfall across Punjab and Sindh cotton zones this week, along with flood threats in Rahim Yar Khan and other parts of Sindh, could further harm cotton fields.

Farmers have been advised to keep drainage routes clear so that flood and rainwater does not remain standing in fields for long. Prolonged waterlogging could lead to excessive weed growth and expose crops to armyworm and fungal infections, which may cause greater damage.

He added that due to reduced arrivals of seed cotton, several ginning factories in Punjab and Sindh have gone inactive. Despite limited availability of quality lint, cotton prices have shown a downward trend in recent days, falling from Rs16,500-16,600 per maund to Rs16,200-16,300 per maund, causing concern among both farmers and ginners.

He further noted that reliable national production figures for cotton in the 2025-26 cotton year will only be possible by the first week of October after the full impact of rains and floods becomes clear.

Meanwhile, Federal Commerce Minister Jam Kamal, in a meeting with a large delegation of textile mill owners in Islamabad last week, announced that the government will soon unveil a new five-year textile policy aimed at reducing sectoral challenges and boosting textile exports.