Farmers, ginners and cotton traders have expressed serious concern over the shortage of water which may hurt the expected bumper crop, both in Sindh and Punjab. Government estimates that extreme low level of rain has shrunk the water supply by 60 percent in the country and the government was making efforts for the best utilisation of water.
They believe that the government might cut the flow of water in canals, which would damage the already mature cotton crop in Sindh and in many areas of Punjab.
Farmers and ginners said they expect a record cotton crop of 11 million bales this year as the shortage of rain produced best impact for the crop.
However, shortage of water could be disastrous for the crop, said ginners.
"We have no information that the government is planning to curtail water supply to standing cotton crop, but shortage of rain could cause a short supply of water," said a ginner from lower Sindh.
Chairman Karachi Cotton Association Iqbal Umar in a statement issued on Friday expressed concern that the government was reportedly planning to reduce water supply in canals.