Efforts on to achieve cotton production target: minister

Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture, Sikandar Hayat Bosan has said that the government is making all-out efforts to achieve the cotton production target of 13.8 million bales. He was presiding over a meeting to finalise the cotton production strategy for 2006-07 here on Thursday.
He informed the meeting that in order to safeguard the growers' interests the government has already enhanced the seed cotton intervention price to Rs 1,025 per 40 kgs from Rs 975 of last year.
Besides, TCP would be inducted as and when required. He further said that the inter-ministerial committee would regularly monitor the market prices and the payment of premium price to cotton growers for higher grade.
For timely guidance of the cotton growers the ministry has already launched a campaign through electronic media which would continue throughout the season.
The global and domestic cotton situation was also reviewed during the meeting and it was observed that the world consumption of cotton was likely to surpass production by about 3 percent and the international market was likely to move up in 2006-07 by about 10 percent. The cotton crop sowing in the country were reportedly being done at a high pace and there were good prospects for achieving the cotton area target of 3.25 million hectares envisaged for 2006-07 season.
It was also informed that in order to encourage the production of clean and contamination free cotton, the ministry of textile industry would launch special campaign in collaboration with TCP, PCSI, provincial governments and the private sector stakeholders so that the premium for better grade seed cotton is passed on to the growers.
An action plan intimating the responsibilities of various public and private sectors stakeholders was also finalised for achieving the production target of 13.8 million bales and to avoid any untoward situation during the growth/development and marketing of the cotton crop during the next season.
The minister directed the concerned organisations/departments to keep close watch on day to day cotton crop situation and ensure timely and adequate availability of all the essential inputs, particularly fertiliser and pesticides. He stressed upon the availability of all the insect pests specific pesticides throughout the season.