Daily Times

Country’s cotton production has dropped by 63.55 per cent this year, says the latest report by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), here on Wednesday.

By September 15, 2024, only 1.43 million bales have been produced which is a remarkable drop from 3.93 million bales during the same period last year.

Punjab, the country’s largest cotton-producing province, has seen a severe 65.13pc decline, with only 538,686 bales produced. In comparison, 1.54 million bales were produced by this time in 2023. The Sindh province has also faced a sharp reduction of 62.5pc, producing just 895,342 bales this year compared to 2.38 million bales last year. Balochistan, contributing the least, has managed to produce only 34,900 bales so far.

According to cotton experts, the steep decline is being largely attributed to climate-related challenges. Record-breaking heat, pest infestations, and erratic rainfall have devastated crops in key growing regions. This year, heatwaves of up to 48’C scorched cotton fields across Punjab and Sindh and it led to lower yields.

Similarly, continuous rains over the past two weeks in Sindh have further delayed cotton picking and it resulted in labour shortages and price slumps. Despite hopes for improvement with the end of the monsoon season, the situation remains grim for many farmers, the experts remarked.

High production costs are another critical issue affecting cotton growers. Fertilizers, pesticides, and labor costs have surged and it left farmers unable to maintain their crops. Compounding this problem is the lack of climate-adaptive cotton varieties, a challenge that research institutions have struggled to address due to insufficient funding.

The Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), once at the forefront of developing resilient crops, now faced severe budget cuts, hampering efforts to innovate and protect future yields. Experts warn that without investment in research and development, the country’s cotton sector can face continued decline.

Despite the negative outlook, some areas have reported improved fruiting and the situation offers hope for a possible recovery. Agricultural specialists also stressed that swift action was required, particularly in guiding farmers on pest management and climate resilience.