Task Force to review Pakistan's cotton economy

The members of the Task Force (Cotton), who were elected unanimously hail from the Farmers Associate Pakistan (FAP), Kissan Ittehad and Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), APTMA and KCA met on April 1 at the APTMA Punjab office to discuss the competitiveness of cotton economy.

The meeting reviewed the causes of unprecedented decline in the cotton production in 2015-16 and proposed measures for achieving maximum production of cotton for the coming cotton crop season, media reports said.

Seth Muhammad Akbar said the government should immediately take necessary measures to strengthen cotton production in the country and called for tax concessions on all inputs such as water, electricity, seed, pesticides and fertilisers to enable the cotton growers to compete regionally. Akbar also sought research and technological support for cotton growers right from land preparation to the crop harvesting at the farm level.

The spinning industry, he said, was already facing high cost of doing business and is unable to procure cotton at import parity.  The Task force (Cotton) would strive for a free market mechanism while ensuring a level playing field for all the stakeholders of cotton economy.

He said the cotton economy decrease is imperative as it provides livelihood to 50 per cent of the 55 million direct workforce in Pakistan and needs immediate government intervention to address its issues.  (SH)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India