The textile sector in Pakistan may once again have to foot an import bill of around US $600 million to import cotton, due to a decline of the cotton crop in the current season. This is the seventh year in succession, since 2003-04, that, cotton production is missing its target.
The cotton crop in the current season has been hit by a widespread attack of pests, particularly the Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) which has affected a majority portion of the crop grown in the major cotton producing regions of Punjab and Sindh.
Experts from the cotton sector are of the opinion that cotton out put will be lower than the revised estimated targets set by the Ministry of Agriculture. The initial estimations stood at 13.3 million bales, which were revised to 12 million bales last month.
Mr Ghulam Rabbani, a cotton merchant of repute and Director of the Karachi Cotton Association was critical of the poor planning, spurious inputs including pesticides, insecticides and fertiliser besides uncertified BT Cotton seed, which have hit cotton production.
The textile mills in the country consume around 16 million bales of cotton and exports also account for a major chunk. This is expected to leave a big divide between supply and demand, which will lead to imports from countries like India, US and Uzbekistan.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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