Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research. On Monday, he said in a press conference at Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) that Cotton Cluster Villages would be introduced to promote the crop by ensuring modern technology soon. Cotton is a highly profit-generating crop as it strengthens the country’s economy and offers job opportunities to millions of people in the country.
Pakistan is the fourth-largest producer of cotton globally and importantly also holds the third largest spinning capacity in Asia (after China and India), with thousands of ginning and spinning units producing textile products from cotton. Approximately 1.5 million smallholder farmers rely on cotton for a living.
He informed that one million bales helped to generate Rs 97.5 billion. The government has set a target of 10 million bales during the ongoing season. He remarked that cotton cluster villages comprised of two to four union councils would be introduced in different areas. Modernize farming techniques would be introduced in these cluster villages to motivate other farmers. Besides this, the government was paying immense focus on white gold (cotton) and hopefully cotton would be a strategic crop in the future. Pakistan used to export textile products worth over 15 billion dollars annually. Last year, the country had to import 4.5 million bales for local industry.
However, the government was striving hard to enhance cotton production. Particular focus on seed quality, enhancing sowing area, mechanization, and up-gradation of research institutes is the current government’s priority.
