Cotton production indicators have expressed fears of reduced production this year, declining from the set target, and agriculturists have predicted import of at least three million bales cotton to meet the requirement of domestic industry's consumption.
The agriculturists have said that the government did not take the matter seriously and did not transmit latest technology and quality inputs to cotton growers. Talking to newsmen here on Monday, agriculturist and former speaker of National Assembly Fakhar Imam predicted that cotton production this year is expected 12.4 million bales. He said that the major reason for low production was that the government failed to evolve high-yielding and cotton leaf curl virus and bollworm resistant varieties.
The situation indicates that the government has also not transmitted latest technology and quality inputs to cotton growers. Cotton production has been reducing for the last two years, he said, and added that production was 13.7 million bales in 2005-06, which stood at 14.3 million bales in 2004-05.
The production indicators show declining trends in the past two years while world cotton production, particularly in China, India and others, has recorded increase, he said. The declining trends in production should be of very great concern to all those managing the economy of the country, he added.
He expressed fear that the country would have to import at least three million bales to overcome the shortfall and fulfilling domestic needs. Import of cotton bales would further over-burden the import bill by 600-700 million dollars, he added. Fakhar said that the government remained aloof in evolving the legal mechanism to allow genetically modified organisms to be sown in Pakistan.
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