MULTAN: Cotton production fell by 20.12 per cent to 8.647 million bales till February 15,2020 this season against 10.79m bales in the same period last year, the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA)Chairman Javed Suhail Rehmani said on Tuesday,
The Chairman said that there should be complete ban on the sowing of Sugarcane in cotton zone and Government should bring maximum area under coton in this zone. He further said that heat, disease and virus resistant certified seed must be supplied to the growers on the subsidised rate. He further said that keeping in view the climate change, Agricultural scientists must change the sowing calendar for cotton to achieve the target of cotton production
, In its fortnightly report, the PCGA noted that the production of cotton bales went down by 21,53,019 bales in the current season.The country is likely to miss the target of 9.5m bales.
According to the PCGA figures till Feb 15, Punjab suffered cotton production losses by up to 22.7pc, followed by Sindh with 16.3.
Punjab produced 5.074m bales against last year’s 6.5m bales, highlighting a shortfall of 1.5m bales. Sindh produced 3.5m bales against last year’s 4.2m bales, with a shortfall of 0.7m bales.
Till February 15, ginning factories produced 8.5m bales during the current season.
Textile sector and exporters purchased 7.8m bales and 5.9m bales, respectively.
Total 71 factories remained functional in Sindh and Punjab. Of these, 62 units are in Punjab and nine in Sindh. Last year during this period 102 factories were functional.
The unsold stock available with the ginning factories is 694,717 bales which was 1.3m bales during the last year.
This year’s stock is 47.4 per cent less as compared to last year. The shortfall of phutti (seed cotton) is 11.9pc.
Cotton Ginner's Chairman said the government must ensure provision of quality cotton seed to farmers for next crop otherwise the situation will be much worse.
“It is being expected that sowing process in lower Sindh will partially begin in March. Unfortunately so far no proper working has been done by the government institutions for the provision of good quality seed to farmers,” he added.
He said that cultivation of sugar in cotton sowing area is another major factor which is affecting production.
