Pakistan: Punjab Fails to Meet the Cotton Seeding Goal
Punjab has fallen short of its cotton sowing target for the 2024-25 season and has not even matched last year’s sowing levels.
Farmers have shown less enthusiasm for cotton cultivation this season, mainly due to unfavorable cultivation economics and extreme weather conditions, including unprecedented heat and canal water shortages..
The target for cotton sowing was set at 4.15 million acres, but only about 3.4-3.5 million acres—approximately 19 percent less than the target—have been sown, according to estimates.
The provincial agriculture department initially expected cotton sowing to be completed by mid-April. However, due to slow progress caused by multiple factors, the cultivation period was extended to the end of May, without achieving the desired results.
The official described the situation as alarming, particularly noting significant shortfalls in the core cotton belt of south Punjab, including the DG Khan, Multan, and Bahawalpur Divisions. These divisions account for 85 percent of the total cotton area in the province. Official figures show that DG Khan, Multan, and Bahawalpur fell short of their sowing targets by 34 percent, 30 percent, and 23 percent, respectively.
Despite efforts by the provincial agriculture department to maximize cotton cultivation, severe and prolonged heatwaves over the past month have adversely affected the crop. Temperatures have exceeded normal summer levels by 4-6 degrees Celsius, damaging newly sown saplings and standing crops. Farmers had to resow crops due to rare cold conditions that hindered seed germination and a phenomenon called 'karand,' where seeds could not sprout due to soil hardening after rains.
Late-sown crops faced extreme heat in May, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, burning cotton saplings despite growers' best efforts. Farmers initially attempted machine planting, which was unsuccessful. They then tried hand-sowing on beds, which yielded some positive results but required additional effort and financial strain.
Khalid Khokhar, President of Pakistan Kissan Ittehad (PKI), highlighted that the high prices of agricultural inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides, diesel, and electricity, coupled with decreasing produce prices, have discouraged farmers from growing cotton. Last year, the previous government promised to buy cotton at Rs8,500 per maund but failed to implement the plan. This year, there has been no announcement regarding cotton’s indicative price.
Read More :> PAKISTAN : Over 100,000 Acres in Faisalabad Under Cotton Cultivation
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