Pakistan's MY 2005/06 cotton production is forecast at 2.132 Million Metric Tons (MMT), 12 percent higher than earlier estimates based on improved gains from a mild growing season that stretched to December 2006, grower adaptation of improved management practices promoted by Agriculture Ministry, market prices prevailing above the indicative prices and an increased planting of higher producing cotton varieties.
Production
The MY 2005/06 crop forecast is 2.132 Million Metric Tons (12.54 million 170 Kg local bales).
This latest assessment is 12 percent higher than the previous estimate as weather remained mild in the later phase of crop growth from mid August through December, 2005.
Potential losses due to heat stress, rains and floods in the earlier part of the season were countered with farmer adaptation of better management practices promoted by the Agriculture Ministry.
A surge in market prices over and above the support price helped maintain the interest of the farming community in better crop care.
Unrecorded sowing of new cotton varieties also played its role in increasing cotton productivity, with unofficial estimates suggesting 3 to 5 percent of the area in Punjab and 10 to 15 percent of the area in Sindh may have been planted in transgenic cotton.
The higher yield suggests an increase in the area planted with new varieties in 2006-2007.
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United States Department of Agriculture
marketing@alchempro.com
