Cotton production target revised due to water shortage and pest attacks

September 13, 2018 (MLN): The Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC) has revised the cotton production estimates down to 10.85 million bales for the current season (2018-19), due to water shortage and pest attacks that have decreased the crop yield.

According to official data released on Wednesday, the cotton production is likely to fall short of a previously set target of 14.37 million bales to be produced during this season.

Cotton production in Punjab is likely to fall around 2 million bales short of the set target of 10 million bales, whereas Sindh’s output is expected to be only 2.6 million bales this season, as compared to a target of 4.2 million bales.

Cotton crop in Sindh has been severely affected by acute water shortage due to low river flows and below normal rainfalls in crop growing areas. Moreover, hot weather during the early stage of crop reduces yield as well.

Cotton production has been missing its target for several years now. Around 11.15 million bales of cotton is produced annually, on average.

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