ISLAMABAD: The Senate Committee on National Food Security and Research has asked the government to immediately stop the import of cotton lint from India.

Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, while chairing the committee meeting on Wednesday, warned that the country’s agriculture economy would be ruined if the import of 0.5 million bales of cotton from India was not stopped.

The committee’s members observed that the last season showed a 30 per cent decline in cotton production, adding that the figure could rise if immediate measures were not taken.

There is sufficient stock of cotton lint available with the Trading Corporation of Pakistan, so there is no justification to import cotton, observed the committee. It also sought a report from the ministry of commerce on the import of cotton lint from India via the Wagah border.

Minister for National Food Security and Research Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, who attended the meeting, fully endorsed the recommendation to ban the import of cotton.

A presentation made by his ministry showed that 33pc of certified cotton seeds were supplied to farmers, while 32pc of approved seeds were sown during the current cotton season. In 2014-15, only 3pc of certified seeds were sown by farmers, the committee was informed.

Since the Seed Act, recently approved by parliament has not fully been implemented yet, hybrid cotton seed from India is available in the market in Sindh and being sold without any brand name, the committee was informed.

The committee asked the government to immediately announce the intervention price for cotton as harvesting season is fast approaching. Punjab has already asked the federal government to announce the intervention (support) price.

Mr Bosan explained to the committee members the salient features of the proposals relating to food, agriculture and livestock sectors in the budget for fiscal year 2016-17.

The minister told the meeting that the Plant Breeders Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2015, will be passed by the National Assembly soon. The committee noted that many outlets, especially of cotton seeds, are not being checked for quality.

The committee also observed that the scarcity of staff offices of that department responsible for checking the seeds is causing problems in seed certification. The ministry was asked to come up with proposals on how to ensure good quality seeds for farmers.

APP adds: Commerce Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan during a meeting with the representatives of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) on Wednesday said that his ministry would work in collaboration with the provincial governments to increase the production of cotton.

The meeting also discussed the role of Trading Corporation of Pakistan and the effect of import policy of cotton. The minister said the government’s prime concern was to protect the interests of farmers besides boosting textile exports.

He urged the representatives of PCGA to launch a campaign for educating farmers so that they could grow more cotton in a proper manner.

It was decided that a meeting of all the stakeholders will be convened to prepare a holistic strategy to address the issues of cotton production, quality of cotton and its import mechanism.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2016