PAKISTAN’S transformation from a leading cotton exporter to an importer reflects the deep challenges confronting the country’s agriculture sector. This decline, coupled with a heavy reliance on imported edible oil, jeopardises the nation’s economy and food security.

In the 1990s, Pakistan was counted among the top cotton exporters, contri-buting significantly to the global textile market. Today, however, we spend over $1 billion annually on cotton imports to meet domestic demand.

The root causes lie in outdated seed technology and poor pest resistance. Competing nations innovate regularly, but the scene in Pakistan has remained stagnant, resulting in lower yields and heightened vulnerability to pests, like the pink bollworm.

As such, the situation is worsened by a tax structure favouring imported cotton over the local produce, leaving the farmers grappling with rising input costs and stagnant support prices. Local mafias further exploit the sector by hoarding seeds and manipulating market prices, pushing the farmers to the brink.

The edible oil sector mirrors this crisis as well. Pakistan spends over $3 billion annually on edible oil imports despite having the potential to cultivate oilseed crops locally. A lack of planning, farmer incentives, and over-reliance on imports have made us increasingly dependent on foreign markets.

To address these challenges, investment in research and development for high-yield, pest-resistant seeds is critical. The government must also revisit the tax structure to support the local producers, enforce stricter regulations to curb market manipulation, and incentivise the cult-ivation of oilseed crops.

Pakistan’s agricultural decline is not just an economic issue; it is a matter of national pride. Policymakers in Pakistan must prioritise agriculture to restore the country’s self-sufficiency, and to reclaim the status of a global leader in exports.

Mohid Yaqoob
Lahore

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2025