ISLAMABAD: The cotton crop production may reach 11.388 million bales during current season in the country, predicts Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC).
Th CCAC met here with Secretary Ministry of Textile Industry in chair to assess cotton crop production during current season and preparing future road map to enhance crop output in country.
Representatives of provincial governments of Sindh, Punjab, Trading Cooperation of Pakistan (TCP) and Cotton Growers Association attended the meeting.
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) and Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) also attended the meeting.
Cotton Commissioner, Dr. Khalid Abdulah informed the meeting that cotton crop production in Punjab was estimated at 7.4 million bales and in Sindh Province 3.4 million bales during period under review.
He said cotton crop production in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was expected at 0.0015 million bales where as 0.588 million bales each bale of 170 kg in Balochistan.
The meeting was also informed about cotton crop production in the country, challenges faced by the cotton crop especially lower seed cotton prices during early cotton season.
It wa also informed that the crop was damage by pink bollworm and white fly, high input prices and rain and floods had also damaged the cotton crop.
The participants were of unanimous views that the crop in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh has been badly damaged during current season by unprecedented heavy rains, flood and attack by pink bollworm and white fly which have cast negative impact on total crop yield.
Member representing APTMA was of the opinion that the assessment is very realistic and the ground realities are very close to this forecast. Cotton growers emphasized the assurance of quality seed for the coming cotton season and monitoring of pink bollworm by the provincial agriculture department.
Cotton Commissioner said cotton crop size is assessed on the basis of data provided by the provincial governments, yield parameters of cotton.
