India leads, Pakistan lags in cotton production

Pakistan's cotton industry, once a leader, is facing a steep decline. The country's heavy reliance on the IMF and a lack of investment in research are major factors. India, once a competitor, has surpassed Pakistan in production, becoming the world's largest cotton producer. Pakistan's production has shrunk to 8-9 million bales, just a fraction of India's 34.7 million.

Water scarcity and competition from other crops are further hurting Pakistani cotton. Additionally, the government has not set support prices for cotton, unlike India's 31 crops.

The Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), the main research body, is in financial crisis. Scientists haven't been paid for 22 months, and the cotton cess, a tax meant to fund research, hasn't been raised since 2012. The textile industry, which owes billions in cess dues, has stopped paying altogether.

This lack of funding has crippled research. Despite these challenges, the PCCC subsidiary, Central Cotton Research Institute Multan, developed a high-yielding cotton variety in 2023.

Pakistan urgently needs a national commission to investigate the decline and hold stakeholders accountable. Many cotton-producing countries invest heavily in research, often through taxes on cotton production. In Pakistan, the situation is dire, with researchers facing financial hardship.

The Indian government heavily subsidizes cotton farmers, providing quality seeds, irrigation infrastructure, and modern machinery. Pakistan lacks such support, hindering its ability to compete.

To revive its cotton industry, Pakistan needs to prioritize research, raise the cotton cess, and hold the textile industry accountable. Additionally, government support for farmers, similar to India's model, is crucial.