ISLAMABAD, Oct 10: The government said on Friday a 10.5-million bales production target for the current cotton crop would be achieved despite a pest attack and that growers would get a good price because of feared worldwide shortages.

Food and Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar Laleka speaking in the National Assembly acknowledged damage to the cotton crop by a pest attack, particularly in southern Punjab. But he said cotton crops had suffered elsewhere also, including the United States.

In this situation, Pakistani growers could expect good prices between Rs1,200 and Rs1,300 per 40 kg, he said while speaking on a house member’s call-attention notice about the damage to the crop in southern Punjab due to alleged non-availability of required pesticides and distribution of sub-standard pesticides.

Parliamentary secretary for food and agriculture Rajab Ali Khan Baloch said the pest attack came at a critical phase of the crop, particularly in southern Punjab districts, including Rahim Yar Khan, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Khanewal, Multan and Bahawalpur. But he said: “Insha-Allah we will achieve the target of 10.5 million bales.”

He said pesticide stocks in the country were of the same size as last year but were exhausted early because of rains and humidity.

The parliamentary secretary said the private companies, on the government’s urging, had arranged imports by airlifts of fresh pesticides which had reached the market and were available to the farmers. Monitoring committees have been set up to ensure availability of the pesticides, he said.

Makhdoom Ahmad Alam Anwar, who had moved the call-attention notice, said crop damages had disappointed growers after they had put in a lot of expenses and he wanted the government to own responsibility.

“How can the government own responsibility for a natural calamity?” asked the parliamentary secretary.

He said those found selling substandard pesticides would be given stern punishment, although quality check was a provincial responsibility.