ISLAMABAD:
The government has agreed to put a
halt to cotton imports during crop harvest in an effort to ensure farmers get
an attractive price and are encouraged to plant more in the next season as
cotton production has dropped sharply over the past four years.
Earlier, on the persistent demand from textile millers, the current
government allowed duty-free import of cotton, but that hurt the interest of
Pakistan’s growers and benefitted Indian farmers who have been exporting a
significant quantity of cotton in times of need.
Pakistani farmers have suffered as the government has focused more on
framing industry-friendly policies over its tenure since June 2013
According to a report submitted to the cabinet by a special
committee, cotton production has faced virtual stagnation since 1991-92
fluctuating in the range of 10 to 12 million bales. In 2015-16, the output even
dropped below 10 million bales, standing at 9.9 million.
Pakistan’s annual consumption needs are estimated at 15 million bales,
turning the country into a net importer of cotton.
The committee, headed by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Sartaj Aziz,
was constituted by the cabinet in order to examine the challenges faced by the
cotton farmers.
It recommended that cotton import should not be allowed during crop picking.
It suggested that cotton seed supply industry should be regulated by
rationalising over 700 such companies.
The seed act and plant breeders’ rights act may be implemented properly and
extension services may be improved through promoting better crop husbandry and
employing information technology-based solutions, it said.
The committee suggested that cotton cultivation may be expanded in
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan – the two provinces that have a very
insignificant contribution to the overall cotton production.
It also focused on improving spinning and ginning processes by adopting
better technology, shifting the current weight-based pricing system to the one
based on quality and cotton labeling by ginners to show quality features.
Source: The Economic Times, India Friday, 23 February 2018