Pak cotton output to cross 12.5m bales in 09-10
Thursday, 24 December 2009
ISLAMABAD, Dce 23 (Commodity Online): World's fourth largest cotton producer, Pakistan said its output for 2009-10 season is likely to cross 12.5 million bales.
According to Pakistan's Agriculture ministry, this was against 11.8 million bales of previous season.
Pakistan had earlier estimated about 12 million bales in the crop year ending in March after pest and virus attacks in the major cotton-growing area of Punjab province.
But output had increased significantly in the southern province of Sindh, 'By Dec. 15 about 11.29 million bales have arrived at the ginning factories as compared to 9.09 million bales recorded in the same period last year,' the ministry said.
Pakistan often has to import supplies to meet the demand of its textile sector, which accounts for about 60 per cent of total exports.
Originally, Pakistan has set a target of 13.36 million bales for the 2009/10 crop .after the area under cultivation increased to 3.2 million hectares (7.9 million ares) from 2.8 million hectares last year, but attacks by pests and cotton leaf curl virus have taken a toll.
Pest and virus attacks were likely to cut the crop in Punjab province, which had been expected to produce 10 million bales, by 10-15 per cent.
Output in Sindh, the other major cotton-growing province, has been estimated at about 4 million bales.
Final crop estimates are usually made in February.
According to Pakistan's Agriculture ministry, this was against 11.8 million bales of previous season.
Pakistan had earlier estimated about 12 million bales in the crop year ending in March after pest and virus attacks in the major cotton-growing area of Punjab province.
But output had increased significantly in the southern province of Sindh, 'By Dec. 15 about 11.29 million bales have arrived at the ginning factories as compared to 9.09 million bales recorded in the same period last year,' the ministry said.
Pakistan often has to import supplies to meet the demand of its textile sector, which accounts for about 60 per cent of total exports.
Originally, Pakistan has set a target of 13.36 million bales for the 2009/10 crop .after the area under cultivation increased to 3.2 million hectares (7.9 million ares) from 2.8 million hectares last year, but attacks by pests and cotton leaf curl virus have taken a toll.
Pest and virus attacks were likely to cut the crop in Punjab province, which had been expected to produce 10 million bales, by 10-15 per cent.
Output in Sindh, the other major cotton-growing province, has been estimated at about 4 million bales.
Final crop estimates are usually made in February.