Due to damage by rains, low cotton prices, and high cost of inputs which led to lower area under cotton cultivation necessitating import of about $4 billion worth of cotton for domestic consumption in Pakistan according to Dr Khalid Abdullah, Cotton Commissioner, Pakistan. The current cotton output of Pakistan is 10.85 million bales against the estimate of 15.49 million bales.

Meanwhile the sowing target of cotton was also missed as it was planted on 2.946 million hectares against the target of 3.122 million hectares. Cost of inputs including seeds, pesticides, fertilisers and sprayers have increased from 15 to 20 percent. In some cases, low quality seeds, pesticides and fertilisers were also supplied to the growers with disastrous consequences on output.

According to the Cotton Commissioner, Punjab was projected to produce 10.5 million bales this year, but the projection was revised downward to 7.4 million bales following erratic rainfall in some areas and attack of pink bollworm and whitefly. Sindh was expected to produce 4.4 million bales however the projected estimate was revised downward to 3.4 million bales after pink bollworm and whitefly attacks. The Cotton Commissioner further stated that the low price of the produce also resulted in low farmers’ interest in sowing the crop. Incidentally, the price of cotton remained between Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,300 per 40 kg in August and September and this was too low compared to the previous year’s which led to lower area under cultivation then projected.