ISLAMABAD: Downfall in international prices and increasing cost of its production caused low-cotton production in the country.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed Wednesday revealed this while responding to a calling attention notice moved Dr Fouzia Hameed, regarding decrease in the production of cotton.
The minister said that the cotton exports have reduced because of slump situation at international market. He said that people prefer to cultivate other corps instead of cotton to raise their profit. He said due to high costs of input and less output, the farmers prefer other corps other than cotton. He said that the government with the help of concerned organizations including Atomic Energy has been working to help enhance crop production in the country.
The minister said that research was being conducted to introduce new high-yielding cotton varieties to make this crop profitable for farmers and increase its production in the country. He said that climate change was the international issue, adding that the Prime Minister also participated in the recently held climate change conference in Paris to cope with this global issue.
Opposition Leader Syed Khursheed Shah underlined the need for making a comprehensive policy to cope with future food challenges. He said that only those countries would sustain during next twenty years, which have proper food basket adding that Pakistan has this potential but proper planning is required.
