Punjab heading for healthy cotton crop

Sindh production has been significantly marred by rains.

FAISALABAD:

The arrival of cotton at ginning factories by the first week of December, which has touched the figure of 7.5 million bales, indicates that Punjab will produce a handsome crop this season, statistics show.

As compared to the previous five years, this is the highest production in the province. Previously, the output had been 5.3 million bales in 2007-08, 5.9 million bales in 2008-09, 6.8 million bales in 2009-10 and 5.3 million bales in 2010-11.

However, total cotton arrival in the country was comparatively less impressive due to poor output in Sindh and stood at 9.7 million bales so far this year. This compared with 7.3 million bales in 2007-08, 8.3 million bales in 2008-09, 10.4 million bales in 2009-10 and 8.4 million bales in 2010-11.

Sindh’s production stood at 2.1 million bales this year as compared to 3.1 million bales in the previous year.

Officials of the agricultural department confirmed that cotton was mainly destroyed in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sangarh, Nawabshah and Naushero Feroze in Sindh.

There are expectations that Punjab may cross 10.5 million bales whereas Sindh may hardly touch 2.5 million bales. Balochistan is expected to contribute 34,800 bales.

Experts are of the opinion that longer spells of monsoon rains in August and September have not only reduced cotton production but they have also affected the quality. Furthermore, a stinking bug, never witnessed before, also impacted the quality of the crop.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8^th, 2011.