The 2024 cotton season in Pakistan has once again been fraught with significant challenges, posing severe concerns for both the agriculture sector and the national economy. Nationally, cotton cultivation has reached only 1.974 million hectares, a mere 63% of the target set at 3.118 million hectares.

This represents a 17% decrease compared to the previous year, underscoring the deepening issues faced by the cotton crop. In Punjab, 1.304 million hectares were planted against a target of 1.680 million hectares, or 78% of the target, showing a 22% decline compared to the previous year.

In Sindh, 0.550 million hectares were cultivated against a target of 0.630 million hectares, representing 87% of the target, but still a 14% reduction.

The primary reasons for this decline include extreme weather fluctuations, water scarcity, and the devastation caused by harmful pests, particularly whitefly and pink bollworm.

These challenges have led to a continuous decrease in cotton yield per acre across the country. In 2014-15, cotton production in Pakistan reached 14.2 million bales, but it has now plummeted to just 5.5 million bales, a dangerously low figure.

The domestic textile industry requires approximately 15 million bales annually, a demand that cannot be met by local production.

This growing gap has become a major challenge, as the declining cotton production is not only hurting agriculture but also undermining the broader economy. Farmers are under increasing financial strain, as inadequate profits from cotton cultivation have led many to shift toward more profitable crops such as sugarcane, rice, and........

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