ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is expected to produce 10.542 million bales (1 bale=170 kilograms) during the current season, according to the Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC).

The estimates were released during the third meeting of the CCAC held on Monday under the chairmanship of Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Textile Industry Hassan Iqbal.

Representatives of provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab, cotton growers, the Trading Corporation of Pakistan, the Karachi Cotton Association and the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee also attended.

Cotton Commissioner Dr Khalid Abdullah presented the overview of cotton crop production, insect pests and disease situation, market pattern and other factors (high temperature, lead reddening/burning issues, etc) influencing the overall cotton production in the country.

He said cotton was sowed on 20pc less area in Punjab due to lower prices last year, less return from competing crops, anticipation of more rains; this led to reduction in overall cotton production.

Representatives of the provincial governments explained the methodology for crop assessment and informed the meeting about the crop estimates.

Punjab is expecting cotton production of 6.903m bales while Sindh, Balouchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are estimated to produce 3.6m, 38,000 and 1,000 bales, respectively.

The KCA member believed that the assessment is “very realistic” and that the ground realities are “very close to this forecast”.

Cotton growers emphasised the need for provision of quality cotton seed, affordable prices of inputs and price intervention by the government in such a way that benefit should go directly to growers.

Mr Iqbal stressed the need for developing scientific-based cotton estimation and forecasting model so that accurate, reliable and more authentic crop size may be assessed.

He directed to publicise the standard bale size and its proper packing in electronic and print media for its strict compliance. He also asked for developing effective cotton production plan determining measures for enhancing cotton area and yield in the country.

Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2016