Pakistan’s cotton production may fall this year. Among the reasons are: high power tariff for tube wells, water shortage, absence of a support price and substandard and fake seeds. In most cotton-producing zones, the water table is either down or water has turned saline.

Cotton ginners say, the country’s cotton production can be raised up to 15 million bales if the Cotton Control Act is properly implemented. They have urged the government to extend support to each ginning factory and introduce upgraded ginning technology for production of clean cotton. It is estimated each of the 1300 ginning factories in Pakistan needs an investment of at least Rs 5 million for upgradation.

Pakistan aims to boost cotton production and increase its cultivation area by 45 per cent by 2025. Research funding will be provided. Cotton research will be revitalized. Partnerships may be initiated for variety development and marketing. The Seed Act and the Plant Breeder Rights Act may be implemented. Sub-standard cotton seed and BT cotton varieties may be regulated. The cotton sector may be regulated by rationalizing over 700 seed companies and disallowing cotton imports during the cotton picking season.

Spinning and ginning may be improved through better technology, shifting of the current weight based pricing to a quality based system, and bale labeling by ginners showing quality features.