Pakistan has the 26th largest economy in the world in term of purchasing power parity (PPP) with a GDP of USD 576 billion and per capita GDP of USD 3100 and 44th largest in term of nominal GDP. It has a population of approximately 186 million people (2013 estimates). Pakistan exports are 25.05 billion US dollars. Cotton and textile industries dominate exports, accounting for 55% of export value. 3% of United States imports regarding clothing and other form of textiles are covered by Pakistan Cotton. Cotton products contribute about 10 per cent to GDP of the country. About 30 to 40 percent of the cotton ends up as domestic consumption of final products. The remaining is exported as raw cotton, yarn, cloth, and garments. The Textile industry is the largest manufacturing industry in Pakistan, after agriculture, only sector that provides huge employment for both skilled and unskilled labor and provides employment to about 15 million people or roughly 30% of the 49 million workforce of the country. Pakistan is the 8th largest exporter of textile products in Asia. Pakistan has third largest spinning capacity in Asia after China and India, and contributes 5% to the global spinning capacity. At present, there are 461 textile mills, 1,221 ginning units, 442 spinning units, 124 large spinning units and 425 small units which produce textile products. Pakistan is the 4th largest producer of cotton in the world, the third largest exporter of raw cotton, the fourth largest consumer of cotton, and the largest exporter of cotton yarn. 1.3 million Farmers (out of a total of 5 million) cultivate cotton over 3 million hectares, covering 15 percent of the cultivable area in the country with an average farm size of 4 hectares. The major cotton producing areas are in Punjab and Sindh. Approximately 80% of cotton is produced in Punjab and the rest in Sindh. However, planting area and production strategy are influenced by a number of factors such as weather and government policy. The planting of cotton takes place from February to June and the harvest takes place from August to December. The main varieties planted in Pakistan are mostly Bt varieties. In Punjab fifteen Bt varieties FH118, FH142, VH259, BH178, CIM599, CIM602, IR-NIAB824, CEMB33, Siyban201, Sitara201M, A555, KZ181 Tarzen2 and CA12are approved for general cultivation and two varieties CIM886 and Tarzen1 for permanent cultivation. In Sindh mostly cultivated varieties are CRIS134. Although Pakistan is the 4th largest producer of raw cotton but it is still far behind in per unit productivity compared with the yields of some other major cotton growing countries. Pakistan average yield is 689kg per hectare Australia have highest (2109kg/hectare) America 923kg/ha and china 1477kg/ha. Yield in Pakistan is not increasing due to absence of virus resistant varieties, shortage of water, emergence of new insect pests such as mealy bug and CLCV and the limited adoption of better scientific cultivation methods. Muhammad Zahir Ahsan Scientific Officer Pakistan Central Cotton
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 13:37:44 +0000
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