The Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC) which had initially estimated cotton production at 14.1 million bales in Pakistan has slashed it by 20 per cent to 11.27 million bales for the current season. Last year too, the country missed the crop production target by around 30 per cent and remained around 10 million bales, which according to the Finance Minister hit the GDP growth by 0.5 per cent. And the prospects for current season are not bright as well and the country may face significant shortfall in the crop production.

Representatives of provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab; Plant Protection Department, Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP), cotton growers from Punjab; Sindh and Balochistan, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) attended a recent meeting where they were informed that the health of cotton crop was better this year and would result in more yield than last year.

Due to better prices, the confidence of growers was restored gradually to a great extent. Growers are using better quality fertilizers and quality spray to enhance production. However, sowing area decreased by 21 per cent in Punjab while it increased by 2 per cent in Sindh, with overall decrease by 15 per cent than the last year. This decrease in area has proportionately depicted in the production as well. Representatives of the provincial government explained the methodology for crop assessment and informed the House about the crop estimates.