Production of cotton can be increased to 18 million bales and it will soon be a major Kharif crop as water shortages will discourage farmers from cultivating high water-consuming paddy and sugarcane. That was the consensus among various agricultural scientists from the public and private sectors who gave presentations on Bt cotton to the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA).

Dr Noorul Islam, representing the Punjab government, said cotton production in 2009-10 was lopsided because it was mismanaged. Though no approved Bt cotton variety was available last year, 42% growers cultivated the variety but failed to take precautionary measures.

He said Sindh this year produced a record 4.0 million bales of cotton and its output matched the global best in coastal areas of the province. However, he said, production in some main areas of the province was low because farmers cultivated very late those varieties which needed early sowing. Besides, they failed to take precautionary steps needed to boost cotton production.

He said the scientists were advising the farmers to go for early sowing and that could be achieved by preparing nurseries of cotton plants in controlled environment as was done in case of paddy. The plants, after developing in the controlled environment, could then be shifted to the fields vacated by wheat and other crops. The practice started this year and would gain momentum with the passage of time.