Karachi: Cotton cultivation has begun in several cotton zones of the country. Cotton cultivation has begun in Sindh’s coastal districts of Badin, Thatta, Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar and Umerkot in full swing.
While cultivation has begun in Punjab’s districts of Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Vehari, Sahiwal and Bahawalpur in part.
However, there are concerns that cotton cultivation will be lower than expected this year due to a significant decline in cotton and cottonseed prices in local cotton markets.
The Federal Committee on Agriculture has not yet allocated cotton production and cultivation targets for the cotton year 2025-26, while the USDA has revealed that cotton production in Pakistan during the cotton year 2024-25 was 27 percent higher than the total production of cotton.
Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ehsan-ul-Haq told Express that traditionally, the FCA sets cotton cultivation and production targets in the first week of February every year, but this year the FCA meeting has not been held yet, due to which cotton stakeholders may face difficulties in formulating their strategies due to the non-allocation of the said targets.
He said that cotton cultivation has started in many cities of Pakistan due to higher than expected temperatures and cotton cultivation may improve significantly if there is no rain.
However, due to the exemption of sales tax this year, due to record imports of cotton and cotton yarn, domestic cotton and cotton lint prices are much lower than expected, which is raising concerns about a decrease in cotton cultivation, which may mean that Pakistan may have to import billions of dollars worth of edible oil along with cotton next year.
