RAHIM YAR KHAN, Aug 1: Ginning factories in Rahim Yar Khan have started ginning of Phutti and fixed its price at Rs1,500 per 40 kilogramme (kg). The yield has arrived from Sindh and more than 15 ginning factories have started functioning. The cotton picking in Sindh started a few days ago, and due to better prices in Punjab, Sindh farmers are selling it to Rahim Yar Khan markets.

Traders buy the produce from farmers for Rs1,400 to Rs1,500 per 40kg. The rate of cotton is Rs3,100 to Rs3,300 per 40kg and new cotton seed cake from Rs495 to Rs525 per 40kg.

The old cotton seed cake is being sold at Rs350 to Rs400 per 40kg. Cotton has been cultivated over 760,000 acres in the district this year and there are 147 ginning factories and 38 oil mills in the area.

It is expected after cotton picking shoots up in Sindh, more yield will reach the markets of Rahim Yar Khan and more ginning factories will start their operation. The local crop will be ready by the end of September.

The cotton season of 2007-8 has begun but the government has yet to announce the official rate of Phutti.