Pakistan’s ministry of textile industry has expressed concern over the 28 per cent drop in cotton production during 2015-16 caused by climate change-induced phenomena like heavy rainfall, high temperatures and major pest outbreaks. Theses have taken a heavy toll on Pakistan’s cotton growing districts of Punjab and Sindh province this year. Khalid Abdullah, the country’s cotton commissioner said erratic weather has proved lethal for the production of cotton one of the country’s key cash crops.

Last year was the hottest season in the cotton growing regions over the past decade and with similar weather conditions predicted for next year, cotton production may continue to slide. However, government incentives, such as lower costs for fertiliser and pesticide will help farmers compensate their losses, he hoped.

According to the Pakistan Economic Survey 2015-16, cotton contributes to 1 per cent of Pakistan’s GDP and 5 per cent of the country’s agriculture value-added. The survey shows cotton production has dropped dramatically with the industry missing its 5.5 per cent growth target. To maintain supply of cotton to the textile industry, imports of raw cotton increased to 345,000 tons, a growth of over 250 per cent compared to the same period last year.