LAHORE, Nov 30: For the first time in its history, Balochistan is expected to produce 100,000 bales of top grade, quality cotton this year.

This was stated by Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood here at a press conference on Friday. “The quality is so good that it would make Pakistan famous for its cotton around the world.”

“The quality of cotton produced in Naseerabad (Balochistan) is superior to that grown in Rahim Yar Khan. Moreover, it carries no viral disease,” he said.

The minister, who is quite excited by the prospects of quality cotton production in Balochistan, said the “whole story had begun back in April when President Gen Musharraf distributed subsidized cotton seeds among farmers, and gave his word that TCP would lift all their produce “if the private sector does not procure it”.

Dawood said the government had distributed “only two varieties — Nayab 78 and CM109 — among the Baloch farmers which had given remarkable result.” He said a committee, headed by the provincial secretary for agriculture, had been set up to formulate a “cotton policy” for Balochistan. He said the policy would bar the growers from cultivating any other variety of cotton seed except Nayab 78 and CM109 in the province. Further, the use of the jute sacks and polypropylene bags would be banned for packing cotton as had been done in Punjab to prevent it from getting contaminated.

The minister, who visited Naseerabad Thursday along with senior officials of TCP and Agriculture Development Bank and the federal agriculture ministry, said he was told by the growers that it was possible to cultivate quality cotton in Khuzdar as well. He said: “I will shortly visit the Khuzdar district to see the prospects of promoting cotton production there.” He said, the “farmers of other parts of Balochistan will also get subsidized cotton seeds as an incentive.”

He said, “cotton could be grown on 250,000 acres in Balochistan by utilizing the existing irrigation facilities.” “The area could be increased by making more water available to the farmers,” he said.

He said the government would “closely monitor the situation of cotton in the province.” He said the government planned to supply subsidized cotton seed to the growers for another two years as an incentive, adding TCP would remain active in the cotton market of the province for at least three years.

He said a ginning factory had already been set up in Balochistan. Another is being established. The third one, he added, would take some time.

APP ADDS: Talking to growers and ginners of Balochistan at Usta Mohammad on Thursday, Commerce Minister Abdul Razak Dawood assured the growers that he will request the Chief Executive to provide free of cost cotton seeds this year to them like previous year.