Aftermath: Cotton production under scrutiny

Crop assessment committee to discuss progress after recent floods.

ISLAMABAD:

The Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC) has decided to meet on October 15 to assess the cotton crop volume, in addition to taking into account the damages caused by the recent floods in the country.

All stakeholders including Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, farmers, representatives of federal and provincial governments are due to attend and give their input in the meeting.

Ministry of Textile Industry Cotton Commissioner Dr Khalid Abdullah said the meeting would review flood damage and suggest remedial measures for the revival of the partially-damaged crops.

He said that according to initial estimates, cotton crop standing over 200,000 to 300,000 acres were damaged due to flash floods in the country, adding that in some areas the crop was partially damaged.

According to these estimates, it is feared that about 500,000 to 700,000 cotton bales would be destroyed, adding that field formations of provincial agriculture and revenue departments were completing their reports regarding the damages to crop and land.

Abdullah said the country’s crop position was satisfactory as the cotton growing belt had not received any major rain during the monsoon months, which reduced the risk of virus attacks on crops.

Production of 15.1 million cotton bales was expected during the current season as cotton sowing witnessed a 4.5% increase in Punjab and 5.8% in Sindh.

“Punjab has achieved over 94% of its crop sowing target for the current season,” said Abdullah.

Crop is being cultivated over 5.68 million acres as against the set target of 6 million, up by 4.5% compared to the same period last year.

He said that cotton production in Punjab is expected to go over 10.5 million bales as the area under crop production has registered a significant increase.

Meanwhile, in Sindh, crop production is expected to reach 4.5 million bales as the province has achieved 92% of the sowing target.

“Crop has been cultivated in about 1.48 million acres of land as against the set target of 1.6 million,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2014.

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