Karachi, March 13, 2023 (PPI-OT): Mr. Muhammad Atif Dada, Chairman, the Karachi Cotton Association (The KCA) has welcomed the directives issued to the authorities concerned by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, while chairing a review meeting on ongoing reforms and upcoming cotton crop by the Agricultural Task Force, for devising a comprehensive strategy / mechanism to acquire self-sufficiency in Agricultural produce by activating the role of Agricultural Research Institutions both at Federal and Provincial level and provide quality seeds to farmers by ensuring transparency and effectiveness in the seed certification process, to get bumper crops.
Chairman, the KCA has also appreciated the directive issued to the authorities concerned by Prime Minister of Pakistan to take immediate and long term measures from now to get bumper cotton crop for the country. Chairman, the KCA stated that in the eve of drastic decline in cotton production from 15.0 million to 4.50 – 5.00 million bales in the current cotton season 2022-23, the directives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan to introduce reforms in Agriculture Sector with a view to increase production of crops including cotton crop is right step in right direction and most welcomed. The KCA assures its full cooperation to the Government in this regard to achieve the desired result.
The KCA understands that drastic decline in cotton production is mainly due to (i) reduction in yield per acre (ii) cultivation of sugarcane in the areas earmarked for cotton cultivation (iii) supply of uncertified Cotton Seed and Pesticides that had created a considerable gap in cotton production and local mills consumption.
The KCA, therefore, urges upon the Government (i) to mobilize all resources at Federal and Provincial level to bring more area under cotton cultivation, (ii) increase yield per acre, (iii) ensure to produce and supply of Certified Cotton Seed to the growers for cultivation, (iv) provide education to growers to switchover to modern integrated pest management system, (v) place ban on cultivation of Paddy/Sugarcane and setting-up of Sugar mills in the areas already earmarked for cultivation of cotton, (vi) revamp / gear-up Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) / all the Cotton Research Institutes to evolve high yield / virus resistance cotton seed varieties for cultivation, (vii) take measures to import pure and certified pesticides in small packing instead of bulk in order to avoid adulteration, (viii) advice the cotton growers and the ginners to switchover to modern farming and ginning practices year after year to increase cotton production and improve quality of cotton and (ix) implement Cotton Control Act in letter and spirit to achieve the desired results.
Chairman, the KCA is of the view that if the Agriculture reforms as desired by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, are introduced in right direction and implemented in letter and sprit may bring revolution in Agriculture Sector especially in cotton trade and place positive impact on economy of the country.
For more information, contact:
The Karachi Cotton Association
The Cotton Exchange I.I Chundrigar Road,
Karachi, Pakistan
Phone: +92-21-3242-5007, + 92-21-3241-2570, +92-21-3242-5018
Fax: +92-21-3241-3035
Email: contact@kcapak.org, kcapak@cyber.net.pk
Website: http://www.kcapk.org