With both production and cultivation targets falling alarmingly short, the year 2024 proved to be a challenging one for Pakistan's cotton industry. The industry cultivated only 1.974 million hectare of cotton during the year against the target of 3.118 million hectare, achieving just 63 per cent of the goal, informed Sajid Mahmood, Head - Technology Transfer, Central Cotton Research Institute.

Cotton farmers in the country are currently facing multiple challenges including climate change, poor seed quality, and pest infestations. The seed germination was significantly hindered by unusually low temperatures while extreme heatwaves and unseasonal rainfall in June and July exacerbated the situation, severely impacting overall production, he explains.

The cultivation shortfall affected all provinces. Punjab could achieve only 78 per cent of its cultivation target. The state cultivated cotton on 1.304 million hectare. On the other hand, Sindh reached 87 per cent. Despite these figures, both provinces experienced a decline in production dcompared to the previous year.

The financial challenges for farmers further compounded the crisis. The absence of a government-mandated support price led many farmers to shift to more profitable crops like sugarcane and maize, reducing the land allocated for cotton cultivation, noted Mahmood.

Emphasising on the urgency of reforms to revitalize the cotton sector, Mahmood called for the adoption of modern agricultural technologies, availability of certified high-yield seeds, and implementation of effective pest management strategies to address persistent challenges.

The agricultural policy must focus on strategic planning to mitigate climatic impacts and control crop diseases, he emphasized, underlining the importance of preparing the sector for the growing effects of climate change.

The crisis serves as a wake-up call for policymakers, urging immediate action to safeguard one of Pakistan's key agricultural sectors.