Pakistan cotton output halvesx

Cotton production in Pakistan has plummeted nearly 50 per cent this season compared to last year, according to the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association. As of July 15, only 442,000 bales of raw cotton were processed, down from 858,007 bales during the same period last year.

Punjab’s production dropped by 42.49 per cent, with 114,375 bales compared to 198,873 bales last year. Sindh, hit harder, saw a 50.29 per cent decrease, producing 327,666 bales versus 659,134 bales previously.

The major cotton-producing district of Sanghar in Sindh reported a 46.07 per cent reduction, processing 263,282 bales compared to 488,234 bales last year. Ginning units have purchased 395,695 bales, but textile mills bought only 374,889 bales, a sharp decrease from last year’s 691,731 bales.

Experts attribute the decline to erratic weather - extended winter and excessive heat and the government’s failure to enforce a minimum support price of Rs 8,500 per 40kg. Additionally, high taxes and inefficiencies in tax tracking have exacerbated the issue. The season’s total yield is projected to be around 7.7 million bales, falling short of the 10.2 million bale target.