Government is focusing on revival of cotton, the largest cash crop of the country, through a number of programmes: Syed Fakhar Imam

Islamabad, February 09, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Government is focusing on revival of cotton, the largest cash crop of the country, through a number of programmes, stated the Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Syed Fakhar Imam. He was chairing the annual meeting of Agriculture Policy Institute Committee on Seed Cotton for 2022-23, today on 9 February 2022, at Islamabad.

Representatives of cotton growers, growers’ associations, research scientists, experts, planners and Provincial extension and research departments attended the meeting. Sharing a good news regarding cotton, the Minister informed that the Prime Minister of Pakistan will inaugurate the 1st Cotton Conference being organized by M/o NFS and R in March 2022.

The Conference is an important move by this ministry to bring the key stakeholders at one platform to discuss the issues of the farming community, listen to best practices, and prepare an action plan for the future. Mr. Tahir Khurshid, Federal Secretary NFS and R highlighted the importance of the economic gains from the crop, through better price of the produce which is possible through quality seed, better management practices and efficient use of inputs.

He asked the farming communities to share their cost of production estimates in order for the ministry to work-out the intervention price recommendations for the next crop. Earlier the representatives of the cotton growers expressed their concerns related to cotton cultivation. Ms Rabia Sultan from Punjab appreciated the Government’s price policy for 2021-22 crop announcing Rs 5000/40 kg as intervention price, which paved the way for remunerative price received by the cotton growers.

She asked that the Cotton Vision 2015 needs to be revisited and a new long-term strategy should be devised with the participation of growers. Syed Mumtaz Shah from Sindh shared that the early varieties have proved much better productivity where growers have picked 38-40 maunds of seed cotton.

The Government may consider up-scaling of approved varieties for early sowing, which will bring a huge difference in the overall production. Syed Nadeem Shah Jamote, Vice President Sindh Abadgar’s Board, appreciated convening of the meeting at right time. Rana Iftikhar Ahmed, President Anjuman’e Kashtkaran Punjab appreciated the efforts of the Federal Minister in highlighting the issue of Cotton which has resulted into revival of the confidence of farmers in this crop.

Mr. Bashir Ahmed, grower from Barkhan, Balochistan highlighted that the organic cotton is getting attention of the growers mainly for better price. There is great potential of growing organic cotton in Balochistan that the government can encourage through provision of basic inputs and facilities.

The Director General API Mr. Abdul Karim, made a presentation on the intervention price policy for seed cotton. Sharing about the performance of the crop during the last decade he explained that the average annual growth rates for area, yield and production have been negative at country level, mainly attributed to the declining growth, both in the Punjab and Sindh.

The DG API explained that due to better prices of the produce, returns on overall investment by the cotton growers were significantly better than other competing crops. Highlighting the issue of low yields, the Secretary NFS and R asked the research and extension departments to dig out the factors responsible for the low productivity.

The participants stressed over ensuring availability of quality inputs, controlled prices, particularly of fertilizers and electricity for agricultural tube wells. The representative APTMA suggested that the problems of contamination of cotton need to be addressed to ensure better prices for the produce.

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