Pakistan’s cotton sector has faced a significant downturn in recent years, with the previous season witnessing an extraordinary decline in production, reducing output to just 5.5 million bales.

This sharp decrease has severely impacted the national economy, the textile industry, and farmers, raising serious concerns at both the agricultural and governmental levels.

Key contributing factors include the lower profitability of cotton compared to competing crops, insufficient funding for research and development, the lack of interest from major textile mill owners in promoting domestic cotton, the imposition of an 18 percent sales tax on local cotton while exempting imported cotton, as well as climate change and pest infestations — particularly whitefly and pink bollworm.

To address these challenges and enhance productivity, early cotton sowing is gaining traction due to its potential for higher per-acre yield, reduced production costs, and lower labor requirements.

Recognizing its significance, stakeholders — including government bodies, research institutions, and farmers — have formulated a comprehensive strategy to promote........

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