The government Tuesday revised downward the cotton production as well as area target and fixed at 14.1 million bales from 3 million hectares for the next season 2016-17 against 15.49 million bales from 3.11 million hectares estimated for the current season (2015-16). The country has already missed the current season crop production target by around 34 percent and expected that it will remain at 9 million bales.
The fifth meeting of the Federal Committee on Cotton (FCC) was held with Amir Marwat, Secretary Ministry of Textile Industry in the chair to set the targets for cotton area and production for the cotton crop season 2016-17. The committee agreed to fix the overall cotton area and production targets for the year 2016-17 as Punjab will produce 9.5 million bales from 2.31 million hectares, Sindh 4.5 million bales from 0.66 million hectares, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa 0.003 million bales from 0.001 million hectares and Balochistan will produce 0.098 million bales from 0.038 million hectares.
The Secretary informed the participants that the meeting has been convened with a major focus to devise strategies to improve cotton production in the coming season. He urged to develop coordinated strategy of stakeholders including the Meteorological Department for organising farmers' awareness programs, including seminars, conferences and workshops to train farmers and enhance their capacity about cotton crop regarding best management practices.
The Secretary further stated that the government has provided several support schemes to the cotton growers and other textile sector components to enable them to compete with regional competitors. Dr Khalid Abdullah, Cotton Commissioner presented the review of cotton crop condition during previous/current year and planning for the coming season. He stated that cotton crop was badly hit due to torrential and prolonged rains especially during month of June-August.
He said that damages due to rains coupled with prevailing lower cotton prices and high rates of inputs, farmers lost interest in spending more on already damaged crop. This situation resulted in flare up of cotton pests especially pink bollworm, armyworm and other pests which also damaged cotton crop substantially.
The representative from Pakistan Meteorological Department reported that the forthcoming cotton season will receive normal rainfall. However, 20-25 percent above normal rainfall with a 0.8 C rise in temperature is expected during months of March to May. The representative from Indus River System Authority (IRSA) stated that around 28-30 MAF water would be available in water reservoirs for the coming crop season and anticipated a 5 percent shortfall in canal irrigation water during the season.
The representative from National Fertiliser Development Corporation (NFDC) also reported that there will be no shortage of urea fertiliser during the season. Moreover, due to provision of LNG to power plants, the fertiliser industry would be getting extra gas which will produce much more fertiliser at cheaper rates even available for export.
The representative from State Bank of Pakistan stated that a target of Rs 600 billion for agriculture credit through various banks and financial institutions has been fixed. The ZTBL will disburse Rs 95 billion loans for agriculture sector including Rs 13 to 15 billion for cotton sector only.
The representatives from Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department stated that up to 2nd week of March, around 25,000 metric tons (60 percent) of certified seed availability will be ensured. The house suggested including seed off-take data during previous year for proper planning. The Director General Agriculture (Ext) Punjab stated a total of Rs 24 billion was disbursed including an amount of Rs 12.98 billion was disbursed to 547,000 cotton farmers whose crop was affected by heavy rains/floods under Prime Minister Relief Package during the year 2015-16. He further stated that more incentives may be announced for the farmers during coming season to maintain cotton acreage.
It was pointed out that seed companies selling fake seed must be de-registered and only quality seed producing companies be allowed to run their business. At the end, the Chair assured that all out efforts will be made to safeguard the farmers' interest in provision of quality inputs at affordable prices.
The meeting was attended by representatives from Federal Seed Certification & Registration Department, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Director General, Agriculture (Ext) Punjab, representative of Crop Reporting Department, Sindh, Punjab Seed Council, Agricultural Research Institute, DI Khan, Director Research, Director Marketing & Economic Research from Pakistan Central Cotton Committee, Indus River System Authority, National Fertiliser Development Corporation; Zarai Taraqqiati Bank of Pakistan Limited, State Bank of Pakistan, Trading Corporation of Pakistan; Meteorological Department and progressive farmers.