KARACHI, Nov 18: Higher phutti (seed cotton) arrivals from fields into ginneries have brightened the prospects of a bumper cotton crop for the current season (2008-09).

According to official figures phutti arrivals during last fortnight (Nov 1 - 15) stood at 1.913 million bales as against 1.660 million bales recorded in the same period last year. This indicates that 253,645 more bales have been harvested during the period under review over the corresponding period last year.

In total over 7.171 million bales have been produced up to Nov 15, thereby showing an increase of 21.66 per cent (1.276 million bales) over the corresponding period last year. Last year, 5.894 million bales were produced in the same period.

Cotton watchers forecast that if the winter season does not bring fog and rains, the size of the crop could be well over last year’s production of little over 12 million bales.

“If the country manages to produce around 14 million bales it will help spinning industry to meet its consumption demand and avoid footing huge import bill in foreign exchange,” they added.

Reports reaching from cotton fields give no adverse news about the pest attack or any other damage to the standing cotton crop so far and if the winter season proves favourable, it would be bumper harvest, cotton analysts said.

Normally, first picking determines the size of cotton crop and if 60 per cent of harvesting is done during this period it would ensure that the crop size is bigger than last season, they maintained.

Arrival of phutti in Sindh remained remarkably high by 29.61 per cent at 2.267 million bales or 518,188 bales more over 1.749 million bales harvested last year.

The Punjab, which produces over 80 per cent of the national cotton, is also giving encouraging figures, where 4.903 million bales or 18.30 per cent higher production over 4.145 million bales harvested last year has been reported.

It is equally encouraging that off-take of cotton by spinning industry is also on higher side when compared to previous year. So far mills have purchased 4.963 million bales as against 4.310 million bales lifted by them in the same period last year.

There are unsold stocks of 2.024 million bales of cotton lying with the ginners compared to 1.521 million bales last year.

As a result of increased flow of phutti and easy availability of cotton the prices in the domestic market are presently steady providing a fair play to all the stakeholders.