ISLAMABAD:Minister for National Food Security and Research said that they would mobilize all of the resources in collaboration with provinces to achieve the 15 million bales production goal set by the PM next year.
He further added that Pakistan Central Cotton Committee the apex cotton research and development organization has developed good varieties and production technology that best suits with changing environment.
In addition provincial agriculture department also partners in cotton development and achieving the target production of 15 million bales.
Cotton being the lifeline of Pakistan is of our prime focus and this ministry is in the process of developing a long-term strategy to meet the requirement of our textile industry.
The Minister explained that our team of experts is devising the details of the plan in consultation with stakeholders to achieve this target.
The main features are availability of certified seed, readily availability of pesticides and fertilizers, maintaining the plant population to maximum level and determination of indicative price.
He said, we are also focusing on horizontal expansion in KP and Balochistan especially the value added cotton like Organic or BCI.
All the scientists and field staff of agriculture department will be mobilized in capacity building of growers in various aspects of cotton production technology.
This year we will specially focus on contamination and quality improvement by properly implementing the Cotton Control Act and other regulation through respective forums.
During the current year, cotton prices remained firm and farmers experienced good profit and that will drive in getting extra area under this crop during the following season.
Previous government has put this important crop on back burner and resultantly area and production declined which ultimately badly affected our exports and textile industry.
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research always safeguards the growers’ interests to enhance their profitability by reducing the cost of cultivation.
Recent reduction in electricity tariff to Rs. 5.35 per unit as flat rate is one example of growers’ friendly policies of this government, contrary to previous government who did it for three months only for political gains.