Cotton output target missed by 2.7 million bales

The country has missed both its original and revised cotton production targets by about 0.2 million and 2.7 million bales respectively due to pest attack and delay in action by concerned officials. Despite three times revision of production target the production would not be more than 11.4 million bales. The ginners have the average weight of cotton bale from 170 kg to 155 kg; therefore, an average bale is some 15 kg less than the usual bale. Thus, if the cotton production of 11.4 million bales is converted into standard bales, then overall production would come to about 10.6 million bales.

During the current season, first time in the history, Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) allowed sowing of BT cotton in the country to get more production, but it failed to control the attack of pest, said a trader Ghulam Rabbani.

He said that mealy bug damaged some 15% crop across the country comprising some 11% in the Punjab and 4% in the Sindh provinces. Cotton was cultivated on 31.8 million hectares in the country and BT cotton was sown on only one million hectares area.