Cotton production in 2015-16 declined by 28pc to 9.92m bales, mainly because of climate change, competition with other crops, lower market prices and the outbreak of pink bollworm, according to the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) which held its seventy-fifth session in Islamabad last week.Pakistan informed the meeting that the future cotton policy envisages a number of strategies which include germ-plasm improvements, development of hybrid cotton, improved farm and crop management, bringing additional area under cultivation — especially in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa — and minimising post-harvest losses, reports The Media. Planning and coordination of cotton research and development programmes, among federal and provincial cotton research institutions, is being strengthened to increase cotton production, improve yields per hectare, evolve disease resistant varieties, promote Bt cotton cultivation and improve the overall quality of cotton.Cotton is grown by 1.3m farmers on over 3.1m hectares of land, which is 15pc of the cultivable area of the country, with average production hovering around 12.7m bales to 14m bales. This is consumed largely by the country’s 521 textile mills, although a significant quantity (up to 1m bales) is also exported.However, to meet the demand for extra-long staple cotton, about 2m bales are imported annually.According to the government statement, the national cotton research and development system was being streamlined — with the involvement of all key stakeholders — to bring it at par with international standards. The government was also encouraging multinational and national technology providers to introduce the latest and most effective insect protection technology.The ICAC observed that contamination is a serious problem and measures should be taken to end contamination. It urged the government to implement the Cotton Control Act.According to Shabbir Raza of the Pakistan Cotton Standards Institute. He estimated that, in Pakistan, economic losses from contamination cost the cotton value chain, from raw cotton to garments $1.4bn per year.
