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Business Recorder
15 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Hybrid cotton trials give birth to cotton revival hopes: experts
LAHORE: After decades of stagnation, Pakistan's cotton sector is poised for a turnaround as hybrid cotton has been allowed and with large-scale field trials underway this year across Sindh and Punjab, industry experts project that hybrid cotton could drive a full recovery of Pakistan's cotton production within three to four years. For more than 50 years, the local industry lacked access to hybrid cotton technology despite regulatory approval being granted as far back as 2010. Now, with the regulatory bottlenecks removed, Pakistan can take benefit of experience from global leaders such as China, the U.S., Uzbekistan, India and Ethiopia. Shahzad Ali Malik, CEO of Guard Agricultural Research and Services (Pvt.) Limited, told Business Recorder that they are conducting hybrid cotton trials on 125 acres nationwide, including Upper and Lower Sindh and the southern part of Punjab province. Each participating farmer is cultivating one-acre plots, with seed provided at a 50% discount. 'Our initial target was to bring 750 acres of land under trial, but the ban was lifted late, and sowing had almost been completed across the country. Out of the 125 acres currently under cultivation, 60 acres are in Punjab and the rest in Sindh. One-acre plot were chosen to assess the performance of the varieties under diverse weather conditions and soil types,' he explained. He said they had also carried out hybrid cotton trials in 2007, but with current higher temperatures and erratic weather patterns, they are now conducting fresh trials of varieties imported from Ethiopia. 'We recorded 85 percent higher production with these varieties in 2007, but the programme could not proceed further due to a ban on the import of hybrid cotton varieties. That ban has recently been lifted by the government. I'm grateful that the present government not only listened to my presentation on cotton in a recent meeting chaired by the Prime Minister but also made a positive decision within two months based on my recommendations,' he added. Initial field data is promising: although plant populations for hybrid varieties are lower (8,500 plants per acre vs. 17,000 in traditional varieties), boll formation is significantly higher, with averages of 250 to 300 bolls per plant; a marked improvement over the previous average of 150 to 200, he remarked. Replying to various queries, he said now the ball is in the court of private sector companies. Just as they introduced hybrid varieties of rice and maize and achieved record production, they should now promote hybrid cotton to create a win-win situation for themselves, for growers in the form of higher incomes, and for the country through increased cotton production. He added that they have so far spent over Rs 210–220 million on cotton seed research to maintain the reputation they earned by introducing high-yielding hybrid rice varieties. Industry leaders believe that with continued investment and strategic alignment with global best practices, Pakistan's cotton sector - a vital contributor to exports and rural employment - could soon be restored to its former strength. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
19-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Stakeholders cheer hybrid cotton seed import decision
Stakeholders in Pakistan's cotton industry have united in applauding the government's recent decision to lift a decades-old ban on importing hybrid cotton seeds, marking a potential turning point for the struggling sector. Farmers, textile manufacturers, and industry leaders described the move as a critical step to revive cotton production, once dubbed Pakistan's 'white gold', and bolster the economy. The decision, finalised through a swift regulatory process, comes after years of declining yields, with production plummeting from a peak of 14 million bales in 2014 to a historic low of 4.9 million bales in 2022-23, according to Pakistan's Central Cotton Committee. Representatives from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI), All Pakistan Textile Manufacturers Association (APTMA), and Pakistan Hi-Tech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA) emphasised the decision's urgency. Shahzad Ali Malik, Founder of PHHSA, highlighted that the import ban on cotton germplasm had stifled innovation for over 50 years. "This is not just about seeds, it is about saving an industry that supports millions of livelihoods," Malik said, recalling how hybrid seeds transformed rice and maize yields, pushing rice exports beyond $4 billion annually. He credited the government's speed in issuing a statutory regulatory order (SRO) within two months of the March 2023 approval, signalling commitment to agricultural revival. The decline of cotton, a crop that contributes nearly 1% to Pakistan's GDP and supports over 40% of the textile sector's needs, has had cascading effects. APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad noted that textile mills imported $5 billion worth of cotton this year to bridge the supply gap, a costly and unsustainable trend. "Every bale we import drains foreign reserves and weakens our global competitiveness," he said. Climate change, substandard seeds, and pest outbreaks like the pink bollworm have compounded the crisis, forcing over 30% of ginning factories to shut in the past decade. FPCCI's Zonal Chairman Zain Iftikhar Chaudhry linked the sector's struggles to outdated farming practices. "Farmers were trapped in a cycle of poor yields, relying on low-quality seeds and ineffective pest control," he explained. Hybrid seeds, resistant to pests and adaptable to climate shifts, could boost yields by up to 40%, experts suggest. This aligns with the government's target of producing 10 million bales by 2025 to restore cotton's historic role. Textile exporters, who contribute 60% of Pakistan's $32 billion in annual exports, see the policy shift as critical for reducing import dependence and enhancing competitiveness. For farmers like Ahmed Hassan from Punjab, the decision brings hope. "Better seeds mean better income. If the government supports us, cotton can bloom again," he said, warning that success hinges on consistent policies, farmer education, and research. "With hybrid seeds now in play, the journey to reclaim 'white gold' has begun."
Business Recorder
17-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Hybrid cotton seed: Govt's decision to allow import welcomed
LAHORE: Stakeholders across the cotton industry — from seed providers and farmers to ginners and textile manufacturers — on Friday welcomed the government's decision to allow the import of hybrid cotton seed. They hailed the move as a step in the right direction, expressing hope that it would not only revive the country's 'white gold' but also help reinvigorate the national economy. Representatives of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI), Pakistan Hi-Tech Hybrid Seed Association, All Pakistan Textile Manufacturers Association (APTMA), Cotton Ginners Association, Pakistan Kissan Ittehad and others addressing a joint press conference said that the removal of restrictions will ensure a stable and enhanced supply of raw materials for our industry, enabling textile manufacturers to operate at optimum capacity and compete effectively in global markets. Pakistan Hi-Tech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA) founder Chairman and father of hybrid rice in Pakistan, Shahzad Ali Malik speaking on this occasion said Pakistan had its bumper cotton crop in 2014 which was around 14 million bales but since then due to various factors it had dropped to around 5 million bases impact our ginning and textile industry, the backbone of our economy. He hailed that the ban on import of cotton germplasm had been lifted after 50 years courtesy efforts initiated by him and backed by FPCCI, APTMA and other stakeholders. He said it is a silver lining that we may soon get our cotton crop revived. He also welcomed that the meeting discussed and approved lifting ban on March 07, 2025 and only in two months a SRO had been issued in this regard. He said it shows seriousness of the government in reviving cotton. 'Upward production of rice and maize made possible by the local and foreign companies through introduction of hybrid seeds and that was why we are able to cross $US4 billion exports of rice,' he added. FPCCI Zonal Chairman Zain Iftikhar Chaudhry welcoming the government decision said that we were seeing bad cotton crop performance due to substandard seed, inefficiencies in pest management and climate change. He said recent decision of the government had opened a new door towards getting better yield and improved quality of lint. APTMA Chairman Kamran Arshad said this decision has come at a time when the cotton sector-central to Pakistan's textile based economy-has been facing multi-facets challenges resulting in sharp decline in domestic cotton production and closure of a number of ginning factories. He disclosed that the textile sector had to import cotton worth US$4 to $5 billion this year but this trend was not sustainable. By allowing access to high performance cotton seed, the incumbent government has laid the foundation for reversing this decline. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
