The country is likely to miss cotton crop production target set for the current season (2017-18) after the pink bollworm (PBW) and whitefly pests severely attacked the cotton growing areas, official sources revealed to the Business Recorder. The Cotton Review issued by the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) revealed that in Punjab sucking pest ie jassid and whitefly are increasing. Pink bollworm infestation is also increasing in the whole cotton area of Punjab. In Sindh, sucking pest is decreasing as crop is progressing to maturity. However, patches of armyworm have been reported.
"It is too early to estimate the damages, but it is confirmed that pests attacked the cotton areas, especially in Punjab," said Cotton Commissioner Dr Khalid Abdullah, talking to the Business Recorder. He said that attacks are more severe than that of last year, but situation is in control as agents have been mobilized in the affected areas. He said that the departments have remained proactive in training of farmers for the management of pink bollworm as well as leaf burning syndrome.
Replying to another question, the cotton commissioner said that the current spell of rain has not affected cotton crop in the country, but if it prolongs, it would certainly negatively affect production. Chairman Karachi Cotton Brokers Forum Naseem Usman said that due to rains in lower areas of Sindh, phutti quality has been affected. He urged the government for taking measures on war-footing basis to give relief to cotton growers.
Chairman Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), Shahzad Ali Khan, said that the current spell of rain has not been reported in the cotton growing belt, and hence it did not affect the crop. The Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC) has already reported downward revised cotton production estimates by over 12 percent to 12.6 million bales against the initial estimate of 14.04 million bales for the current season (2017-18) that means it is missing the sowing target by 12 percent.
Punjab which produces about 70 percent of the total cotton has been hit hard as 5.3 million acres have been covered against the target of 5.97 million acres. Sindh has covered 1.5 million acres in the current season against the target of 1.606 million acres and missed the target by 6 percent. After the revised projection, Punjab is estimated to produce 8.8 million bales of cotton, Sindh to produce 3.7 million bales and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan may produce 0.10 million bales of cotton in 2017-18.