ISLAMABAD (APP) – Despite the torrential rains and flash floods in the cotton producing belt in the country, per acre plant population and cotton ball size has increased as compared to the last year's out-put. Owing the better crop management, the disease incidents including cotton leaf curl virus (CLV) and overall insect attack on crop was recorded at lower level and under control, said Cotton Development Commissioner, Dr. Khalid Abdullah. Talking to APP on Wednesday, he said that about 12.85 million cotton bales production is expected during the current crop season as against the set targets of 16 million bales.
However, he said that potential exists to produce over 18 million cotton bales per annum by adopting modern techniques of cultivation bringing more area under crop and minimizing the factor- production cost in the country.
Dr. Khalid Abdullah said that last assessment about the cotton-output would be made in the third meeting of the Cotton Crop Assessment Committee.
The meeting of the committee will be held on Thursday with Minister for Textile Industry, Makhdoom Shahabuddin in the chair, to asses the final figures of crop-output in the country. The meeting would be attended by stakeholders including farmers from all provinces, representatives of provincial governments, representatives of ministry of Textile Industry, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), Karachi Cotton Ginners Association (KCGA) and others.
"During the second assessment meeting, cotton crop of about 12.589 million bales was assessed based on provincial agriculture department data", he added.
He further said that the assessment of the crop volume plays a vital role for the industrialists and other stakeholders to plan further.