MULTAN: Trading on the cotton market remained slow and selective on Wednesday as ginners stayed away from big deals while unsold lint stocks are dwindling. The Karachi Cotton Association kept its spot rate unchanged at Rs9,100.

Cotton analyst Naseem Usman said the government should take timely measures against the unavailability of quality seed and anticipated locusts attack.

Previously cotton seed was being smuggled from India and used in some parts of cotton sowing areas of Sindh, he said. “Due tight border control this year, Indian seed will not be available which is alarming for cotton growers,” he added.

“Local seed companies are demanding that the seed prepared by them should be certified but so far no approval is being granting while on other hand there is complete ban on the import of seed. The farmers have no other option but to use substandard seed which will affect the overall production as being done from several years,” he added.

Meanwhile there are reports that cotton growers have started preparing their lands for cultivation in Sindh’s Badin district. However unavailability of seed is an issue for them.

The following deals were reported to have changed hands on ready counter: 400 bales, station Chichawatni, at Rs9325; 600 bales, Faqirwali, at Rs8900 and Rs8600 (200 bales and 400 bales respectively); 200 bales, Sadiqabad, at Rs9,100; 400 bales, Rahim Yar Khan, at Rs9,200; 200 bales, Liaquatpur, at Rs9,200; 400 bales, Mian Channu, at Rs8,500; and 200 bales, Fort Abbas, at Rs8,800.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2020