South Punjab all set to boost cotton production in region.

MULTAN -- Cotton as a cash crop, also known as white gold - contributing a huge share of over 64 percent in the country's exports, is a source of livelihood for millions of people in the region including peasants, rural laborers (male and female), ginning sector workers and laborers in textile sector.

For the last few years, the cotton cultivation area was on decline gradually and thus was creating troubles not only for the rural but for the overall economy of the country by lowering the textile's exports.

Farmers show lack of interest towards cultivation of cotton even in the cotton belt of South Punjab. There were multiple factors for decline of cotton cultivation area. In 2011-12, the cotton cultivation area was over five million acres in south Punjab. The cultivated area underwent decline mainly due to low profitability, pests attack and shift of farmers' focus to some other profit generating crops including maize and sugarcane.

The farmers were facing losses, continuous pests attack, particularly pink bollworm and third issue was rising prices of inputs and climate changes. In 2020, the cotton cultivation area reduced to 3.168 million acres at provincial level and its production figures reduced to level of production obtained in 1984.

However, due to some concrete measures and sincere efforts on part of the incumbent government, the cotton cultivation area is likely to increase remarkably in the upcoming season. During the ongoing season, the farmers are availing highest ever price against white gold, ranging from Rs 6000 to Rs 8500 per 40 kg, depending on quality of cotton. However, in past, the farmers were forced to sell cotton against Rs 2500 per 40 kg. In 2020, the farmers faced loss of billions of rupees because of increased attack of pink bollworm and unseasonal excessive rains.

In year 2021, the then government earmarked minimum support price of Rs 5000/40kg in order to ensure reasonable profit for the millions of the farmers. In Punjab, there are nearly 5.2 million farmers and majority of peasants live in rural areas of south Punjab. Cotton is very much important for their economic survival.

Talking to reporter, Secretary Agriculture South Punjab Saqib Ateel said that Integrated Pest Management (IPM) model was introduced to keep cotton crop safe and secure from attack of pink bollworms. He hinted that the model remained highly successful. An effort was made to ensure spray of bio-pesticides for elimination of pests. Although...

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