Seed cotton (phutti) equivalent to over 9.3 million bales reached ginneries across Pakistan till November 15, registering an increase by 6.58% compared to corresponding period of last year. According to a fortnightly report of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), out of total arrivals, 8.2 million or 82,10761 bales have undergone the ginning process.
Arrivals in Punjab were recorded at over 5.5 million or 55,44817 bales , recording a percentage increase of 3.07%. Arrivals in Sindh were recorded at 3.8 million or 3,813736 bales , some 12.14 % higher compared to corresponding period of last year.
Total sold out bales were recorded at 8.2 million (6,182,797) bales including 7.2 million (72,53401) bales bought by textile mills and 2,7029 by exporters. Exactly 1.8 million (19,98123) bales were still lying with the ginneries as unsold stock. Exactly 994 out of total 1,300 ginning factories were operational in the country.
In a press statement issued on Saturday November 18, 2017, Assistant Director Agriculture Information, Naveed Asmat Kohlun said that cotton was the important crop of the country and a major source of earning foreign exchange. He suggested farmers to manage cotton picking from 10 am to 4 pm. Similarly, there should be 15 to 20 days duration between two consecutive cotton pickings.
He said that Punjab government provided special training to cotton pickers so that the farmers could avail maximum benefits. The farmers should start picking when 50% of cotton flowers should be open and mature, he added. Similarly, affected cotton must be kept away from clean. He urged upon farmers to offer reasonable wages to cotton pickers women so that they should maintain standards. Meanwhile, Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) registered record decline in cotton production in Multan among 11 districts of Punjab. Other districts include: Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Pakpattan, Okara, Toba Tek Singh, Mianwali, Jhang, Rahimyar Khan, Bahawalnagar, Sargodha and two districts of Sindh namely Mirpur Khas and Badin in the year 2016-17.
According to the PCGA data available with APP, the production target from district Kasur is yet to be received. The data was collected with joint cooperation of PCGA, APTMA and KCA.
