Cotton production is likely to fall short of the target as the arrival at the ginneries as on January 31 was recorded at 9.2 million bales against 8.9 million bales of January 15.
The ginners expect around 0.3 million bales more in February, the last month of the picking season, which can take the total to 9.5 million bales. The Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) is expected to announce the production figure on February 18.PCGA Vice Chairman Haji Ibrahim said that the arrival figures were vindictive of ginners' point of view, who contested the official estimates at an earlier stage and estimated crop production at 9.5 million bales.
The ginners were of the view that the officials always depend on paper exercises, while making projections for any crop.
The Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) had set a target of 10.5 million cotton bales for the current year. This was strongly opposed by the ginners and growers on the ground that the official estimates were unachievable in the wake of shrinking crop sowing area and intense pest attacks.
This created controversy between various stakeholders of cotton sector over crop volume for the current year.
The officials of the Food Ministry and other concerned departments kept on repeating their claim that the crop volume would be over 10 million bales, as its prospects were much bright, but they secretly scaled down crop target from 10.5 to 10 million bales.
The ginners who expected cotton production for the current season between 9.5 and 9.6 million bales rejected the officials revised estimate.
Ibrahim said that acceptance of ginners point of view regarding crop volume could avoid controversy between different parties to the issue. He said availability of reliable data on cotton production and consumption could help in giving true picture of the entire sector.