Pakistan is going to face a Historic decline in cotton output for the year 2022-23.
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A high-powered Federal Committee on Agriculture (FCA) was informed on Thursday that cotton production is estimated at 6.3 million bales from an area of 2.1 million hectares, reflecting a decrease of 43.08% in production over the past year. The FCA meeting for Rabi Season (2022-23) was held under the Chairmanship of the Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Tariq Bashir Cheema. The meeting included participants from the provincial agriculture departments, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), National Fertiliser Development Centre (NFDC),Historic decline in cotton output , Pakistan Meteorological Department, Indus River System Authority and senior officers from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. The committee reviewed the performance of the Kharif crops (2022-23) and the production plan for Rabi crops (2022-23). The committee also discussed the situation of inputs for Rabi crops (2022-23). During the meeting, the committee was informed that sugarcane production for 2022-23 is estimated at 81.64 million tonnes from an area of 1.32 million hectares, reflecting an increase of 12.44% and 6.23% in area and production respectively over the targets fixed by FCA. Rice production for 2022-23 is estimated at 5.53 million tonnes from an area of 2.99 million hectares, showing a decrease of 2.4% and 34.51 % in area and production respectively over the FCA targets.
Similarly, maize production for 2022-23 is estimated at 9.24 million tonnes from an area of 1.61 million hectares, showing an increase of 21.02% and 28.86% in area and production respectively over the set targets. Historic decline in cotton output , Mung bean production for 2022-23 is estimated at 183.7 thousand tonnes from an area of 213.2 thousand hectares, showing an increase of 12.58% and 2.29 % in area and production respectively over the targets. The committee was also informed that cotton production for 2022-23 is estimated at 6.3 million bales from an area of 2.1 million hectares, reflecting a decrease of 43.08% in production over the past year. Cheema, in his opening remarks, explained that due to the heavy monsoon spell, from July to August, substantial damage was caused to the agriculture sector, especially for crops in Sindh and Balochistan. Due to this, prices of all essential food items have increased, he said. To prevent the unavailability of essential food items in the local markets, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research along with the Ministry of Commerce took up the matter and facilitated the import of essential food items on a fast-track basis to maintain supply at reasonable prices for consumers. The rains, he informed, also affected the production of Kharif crops for 2022-23.
Source: This news is oriignally published by tribune