Shortfall of 1m bales expected in total cotton production

The country would produce around 1 million less bales of cotton against the Government’s revised figure to 12.8 million bales for the season 2006-07, said the ginners and traders. Apparently it is beyond any doubt that the country will achieve nearly 11.8 million cotton bales during 2006-07 crop seasons.

The non professional approach of the Government in fixing the initial target of 14.14 million ba les during 2006-07 was the outcome of not considering the stakeholders, said a Senior member of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) and President of PCGA Sanghar, cotton belt region, Raja Abdul Sattar. Giving reasons, said insufficient water supply, poor pest control, inadequate provision of inputs, including pesticides to tackle mealy bug, Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) and sowing of Bt cotton without certification has caused decline in the cotton production.

Raja Sattar said the fine lint consumption deficit would stand more than one million bales as the current Punjab’s crop is estimated around 8.5 million bales while Sindh will produce around 2.0 million bales. Earlier the Punjab was likely to produce 11 million bales while Sindh production was estimated at 3 million bales.

A senior trader, Ghulam Rabbani said there was no scientific mechanism to make a correct assessment of the cotton crop size as wrong assessment had an adverse impact on the interests of the stakeholders particularly ginners and growers.