Cotton has always been regarded as the backbone of Pakistan’s economy. It provides the fundamental raw material to the textile industry and serves as a major source of valuable foreign exchange through exports.

The livelihood of millions of farmers is linked with this crop. However, during the past decade, a consistent decline in cotton production has turned into a severe crisis. The causes include climate change, substandard seed, counterfeit agro chemicals, costly inputs and the lack of timely investment in cotton research institutes.

The situation was further aggravated as various agricultural universities continued to receive funds for cotton projects but no significant outcomes emerged. Valuable resources were wasted while genuine research institutes could not progress to their full potential.**

It is important to understand the distinction here. Universities are primarily responsible for teaching and general research, whereas cotton research institutes are tasked with developing new varieties, breeding resistance against diseases and providing farmers with modern technology.

Therefore, in both policy and funding, the foremost priority should be strengthening these institutes and enhancing their capacity so that genuine and lasting improvements in cotton production may be achieved. Otherwise, an agrarian country like Pakistan will remain compelled to import cotton for its textile industry.

Encouragingly, the federal government has taken several steps to revive cotton and provide relief to farmers. The most notable is the exemption of 18 percent sales tax on imported cotton. In the past this heavy tax exerted pressure on the domestic market and deprived farmers of the full reward for their hard work.

Now, as a result of this relief, local cotton will be able to compete more effectively in the international........

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