Country may not achieve cotton target

The cotton production in the country would not be more than 13 million bales, as there has been large scale devastation in Sindh because of floods and there would be shortage of cotton in the coming weeks, the stakeholders talking to Profit said on Monday. They said that cotton production target is impossible to achieve and we must have to import at least one to two million bales of cotton if we want to meet our needs. It is estimated that the production of target would be at least 2 to 2.5 million bales less than the actual target because of floods and non-availability of urea as well.
According to Economic Survey of Pakistan, during 2010-11, the cotton crop was cultivated on an area of 7.9 million acres and production remained at 12 million bales. The cotton prices in the last year touched Rs12,600 per maund level. As a result, the cotton production area increased and it was for the first time in the history of the country that cotton sowing area was estimated at 8.7 million acres. The government looking at the historic sowing set the production target at 14.5 million bales. However, due to shortage of fertilizers, the target was revised to 14 million bales.
Farmers Association Pakistan (FAP) President Tariq Bucha said that last year, the cotton output fell to 11.70 million bales against a target of 14 million bales due to 2010′s devastating floods. He said that the losses in the cotton crop were among the reasons for low output. Pakistan’s economic growth that year slipped to 2.4 per cent from the original target of 4.5 per cent. He said that in the wake of adverse crop situation, there is a strong possibility of revising down the production target of cotton crop by 2.25 millions of bales against the target of 14.5 million bales this year. He said that the cotton crop in Sindh was badly damaged and it would not be more than 3.3 million bales. “Sindh has set the target of producing 4.5 million bales but at least 1.2 million bales have been damaged in the province because of devastating rains and floods and damage is also expected in Punjab,” he said, adding the cotton production would remain between 12 and 13 million bales thus there will be shortage of at least 2.5 million bales. He said that special team of FAP in Sindh has assessed the cotton loss because of floods and estimated that there will be shortage of at least 1.2 million bales.
He ruled out the impression that cotton is not damaged at large scale saying some quarters were trying to create impression that there will be no shortage of cotton. “They are not sincere with the farmers and just want to decrease the cotton prices,” Bucha said adding that the government should seriously think of assessing the cotton production so that the farmers get right price for their produce. He said that looking at cotton demand, the prices of cotton would increase in the days to come.
Agri Forum Chairman Ibrahim Mughal said that there will be shortage of cotton in the country and production would remain 13-14 million bales. “Our demand is 15 million bales thus there will be shortage of cotton in the country,” he said adding that it unjust to the farmers that last year when cotton price in international markets were roaming at $0.9 per pound then the farmers were getting price of Rs 3,300 per maund but now the price in international market is touching $1.2 per pound and the farmers are being offered only Rs 3,000 per maund.