The Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) has rejected the crop output report of Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC) and walked out from its meeting as a protest against not entertaining the point of view of the PCGA. Chairman of PCGA Amanullah Qureshi said that CCAC stuck to its crop output figures of 12.598 million bales, "but we are expecting 14 million bales".
He said that ginneries have received 12.829 million bales up to January 15 and still more than 900 ginneries were functioning across the country. He said that some elements in CCAC were protecting the interests of Aptma who want to keep cotton prices at the lowest level, while prices are increasing in international markets. He said that "we have registered our protest on the role of CCAC and rejected its figures of production".
The CCAC said that the crop output was expected to cross 12.598 million bales, at the average weight of 170 kg per bale, during the crop season 2011-12. Cotton production target was set at 14.01 million bales for the FY 2011-12, which was revised due to flash floods in the country and set at 12.2 million bales.
The third meeting of the CCAC was held here with Minister for Textile Industry Shahabuddin in the chair to assess the final figures of crop output in the country. The meeting was informed that cotton crop was cultivated over 7.924 million acres, showing an increase of 2.86 percent, with in Punjab province sowing registering an increase of 0.67 percent and Sindh 12.25 percent. The meeting was informed that Punjab cotton production was estimated at 10.100 million bales, Sindh 2.400 million, Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP) 0.006 million and Balochistan 0.92 million bales.
Secretary Ministry of Textile Industry, Shahid Rashid, said that draft of cotton policy is being finalised by taking all stakeholders on board to provide quality seed for enhancing per acre crop output. He said that the Ministry of Textile Industry was working with provincial ministries to improve the regulations and amendments in law was required to provide quality seeds and other inputs for farmers to enhance per acre yield. To protect the farmers and ensure the qualitative agri inputs in the country three bills including seed bill, plants breeder right and pesticide bill were presented before the concerned authorities for approval. He said that cotton export from the country was expected to cross one million bales mark during the current season and it was also sufficient for domestic consumption. Progressive farmers' complaints about the low germination in seeds and adulterations in agri inputs like fertilisers and pesticides in the country which were reducing their output.
Cotton Development Commissioner Dr Khalid Abdullah said that despite the torrential rains and flash floods in the cotton producing belt in the country, per acre plant population and cotton boll size has increased as compared to last year's out put. Applying better crop management, the disease incidents including cotton leaf curl virus (CLV) and overall insect attack on crop was recorded at lower level and under control, he added.
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