Shahid Abdullah, CEO of Sapphire Fibers, said that the revival of cotton output is necessary for the survival of industries in Pakistan, which could be achieved by teaching the farmers to grow cotton by utilizing every possible technology. Pakistan’s cotton crop has seen a significant reduction in its production.
Cotton has continued to weaken in recent years due to pests, weed infestation, low yield seed, climate change, technological backwardness, improper IPR regime, less technology transfer, and other reasons.
The export share of the textile sector is projected to increase to billion in the ongoing fiscal year compared to .
5 billion in the fiscal year 2020-21 in Pakistan.
Therefore, to achieve the anticipated export target, Pakistan has to revive its cotton production to higher levels.
The per acre yield of the cotton crop is shrinking due to the low profitability of the product compared to maize, paddy, and sugarcane.
Abdullah further said in an interview that “To turn cotton crop more profitable and to enhance growers’ confidence, measures such as application of laser land leveling, promotion of cotton seeds, use of pesticides through drones and establishment of corresponding research centers need to be taken. Pakistan has a huge amount of uncultivated land that supports cotton growth; however, mechanized farming and capital investment are needed.”
