The textile sector is expected to spend  around $600 million on import of cotton from USA, India and Brazil due to decline in cotton yield this season, said importers.

Cotton remained under direct threat of a number of pests and diseases and production will remain far behind 12 million bales revised target from 13.3 million bales set for Kharif 2009-10 seasons, said officials sources in Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Due to poor planning, spurious inputs including pesticides, insecticides and fertilizer besides uncertified Bt cotton seed kept the production below target since 2003-04, said Senior Member of Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association, Ghulam Rabbani.

He said Pakistan produces some 13 million bales of cotton per year and country’s consumption stands at 16 million bales leaving a shortfall of 3 million bales. In order to meet the shortfall, Ministry of Commerce (MOC) allowed import of long staple cotton through land route from India.

Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet had already agreed to allow the import of long staple cotton through land route from India and Uzbekistan to meet the country’s annual shortfall of 3 million bales.