Cultivators must use approved varieties of BT Cotton to boost overall production levels and profitability, agriculture experts have stressed. In the previous season, farmers were lucky to get record high prices, mainly because of the global cotton shortage and the corresponding surge in international prices but this profit could be raised if growers have used BT Cotton II, they stated.
They warned that farmers should not opt for smuggled and unapproved BT cotton varieties. According to conservative estimates, over 80 per cent of the cotton produced in the country was from various qualities of BT Cotton. According to Economic Survey of Pakistan 2010-11, cotton is the main cash crop which contributes significantly to the national economy. It accounts for 6.9 per cent of value added in agriculture and 1.4 per cent of GDP.
In addition to providing raw material to the local textile industry, the lint cotton is an export item. During 2010-11, the crop was cultivated on an area of 2,689 thousand hectares, 13.4 per cent less than last year’s figures, (3,106 thousand hectares). The production is estimated at 11.5 million bales, 11.3 per cent lower than last year’s production of 12.9 million bales and 17.9 per cent less than the target of 14 million bales.
The decrease in cultivated area and production is attributed to a loss in area under cultivation due to floods, widespread incidence of Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) and proliferation of insects in production areas, excessive rain and shortage of water due to canal closure during floods caused heavy losses in certain areas. This year, farmers have increased the cotton sowing area by around 20 per cent. But fears have been voiced that the leaf curl virus may eat away almost three million bales and the target of 15 million bales may not be achieved.
Biotechnology experts say that proper sowing of BT cotton II, insect resistant cotton varieties and hybrids, along with expected release of positive traits of biotech cotton may help in checking the viruses. The farmers can harvest significant revenue of approximately $800 million per year to its farm economy, assuming a 90 per cent cultivation rate for biotech cotton. World cotton production is projected at 24.8 million tonnes during 2010-11 in comparison to 22.01 million tonnes recorded in 2009-10; this is mainly attributed to an expansion in planting by the cotton producing countries.
In Pakistan, experts claim, the problem centers on the fact that smuggled and illegal acquisition of any technology does not bring with it support systems, good quality and latest technology. What is being sowed in Pakistan is the older version of BT cotton seeds and much of it is re-plantation of the seeds acquired unscientifically from older crop, so the real benefit of the latest BT technology still remains to be harvested by Pakistan.
As the new crop is being sowed the estimates are that over 85 per cent cotton produced this year was from BT cotton first generation seeds. This shows acceptability of the new technology by the farmers. Bulk of the market demand is being met by the illegal channels. Farmers Association Pakistan (FAP) spokesman Tariq Bucha said that it is highly recommended that the farmers must use certified varieties, as in this way they could get good production. He said the farmers should not buy ‘any’ variety and sow it rather they should check the advantages and disadvantages of every seed and then sow it.
“Not every BT Cotton seed is beneficial and it has also observed that CLCV infected the BT Cotton therefore only approved seeds could address this problem,” he said adding the BT Cotton seed should be used according to soil conditions. Cotton alone contributes nearly 65 per cent of foreign exchange earnings of Pakistan and the BT cotton varieties are central to achieving ‘cotton vision 2015’ of the government which aims to boost production, aiming 20 million bales by 2015. BT cotton technology is expected to reduce production cost as well as reduction in number of sprays of dangerous and toxic chemicals.
Pakistan became the eighth largest cultivator of genetically modified cotton planting on 2.4 million hectares last year. Also in 2010, approximately 600,000 cotton farmers planted 2.4 million hectares of BT cotton, equivalent to 75 per cent of the 3.2 million hectares of cotton (up three per cent on the 3.1 million planted in 2009) cultivated nationally. Agri Forum Pakistan Chairman Ibrahim Mughal also backed the assertion that only approved varieties should be used. He cited a number of cases which proved that unapproved BT cotton seed was particularly susceptible to CLCV.
All Pakistan Textile Mills association (APTMA) has long demanded the proper introduction of BT cotton technology in the country because present crop cannot meet its demand and forces to rely on imports. In the last season it has imported over 2 million bales from various sources including India. After prolonged discussions with all stakeholders, the Federal and Punjab governments have taken positive steps towards the acquisition of the latest BT Cotton II technology.
The acquisition of this technology from world leaders in the field is supported by the government, textile industry and progressive farmers. It has been recognised by all stakeholders that the major benefit of employing BT cotton seeds is that it has significantly reduced the huge loss of cotton crop caused by various pests each year. Furthermore, using BT cotton seeds greatly reduces the cost of combating these crop diseases as the expenditure on pesticides goes down substantially, experts assert.
