BAHAWALPUR:
Farmers have so far supplied 5.28 million bales of raw cotton to ginning factories this season, 12% more cotton than in the same period last year, fuelling expectations of a bumper crop of more than 15 million bales.
According to a fortnightly report released by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), ginning factories across the country have received raw cotton (phutti) equivalent to 5.28 million bales up to October 15, which was 567,445 bales (12.03%) higher than supplies received in the corresponding period of last year.
Province-wise breakdown of data shows that the supply of cotton to Punjab ginning factories fell 8.89% to 3.05 million bales compared to last year. However, cotton arrivals in Sindh factories rose a whopping 63.38% to 2.23 million bales.
Textile mills have purchased 4.09 million bales from the ginning factories, of which 99,648 bales have been exported. About 1.09 million bales are lying unsold with the factories.
To process raw cotton, 725 ginning factories are operating in Punjab and 254 in Sindh.
Commenting on the data, PCGA ex-executive member Ihsan-ul-Haq says with the increase in production, the rumours of crop losses have died down. He expects total production to cross the mark of 15 million bales by the end of the 2012-13 season following a significant increase of 63% in cotton harvest in Sindh.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 19th, 2012.
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It is quite contradictory story; Punjab which represents over 75% of the country’s cotton production shows dropped arrival by 8.89%. In Sindh, people have picked up their cotton due to rains and considering the last year’s experience, which is reflected in higher arrivals in Sindh. Both provinces have sown cotton on 8% below the target fixed for this year, rain and flood damage, which is about 3% area, is at the top of it. Harvesting 63% more cotton from Sindh is bit exaggerated estimates. We hope for a good cotton crop this year as well.