Pakistan will import more cotton this season after losing about four million bales of the fiber to rains, pest attacks, and bad farm inputs. The country will take a loss of Rs 120 billion worth of cotton in the current season after the government revised down the production target by another two million bales.

Losses would multiple if byproducts (banola oil seeds and cotton cake) and value added textile products are included. This season, the industry expects the country to import at least 2.5 million bales after the government revised the production target twice. In the first five months cotton production fell almost 23 per cent. Local consumption is estimated to be around 15 million bales this season. Last year the country had imported around one million bales to meet the demand of the local textile industry.

Heavy rains in April and May 2015 damaged cotton crops in key production areas of Punjab province. Aggressive use of pesticides to counter pest attacks on the crops still in the fields also damaged fiber. The average production from an acre of land has declined drastically in the current season.

Floods also damaged crops over an estimated area of 1,00,000 acres. The worst affected areas from rains were Multan, Lodhran, Vehari, Khanewal, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Layyah, and Rahim.