Pakistan's cotton crisis deepens amid policy failures and seed quality concerns

Sindh [Pakistan], April 17 : As Pakistan's cotton sector faces a steady decline, experts have urged urgent collective action to prevent further deterioration of one of the country's key cash crops. The call came during a conference hosted by the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics at Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, where stakeholders highlighted systemic issues plaguing the industry, as reported by The Express Tribune.

According to The Express Tribune, participants pointed to multiple factors behind falling yields, including climate change, outdated seed technologies, rising input costs, volatile market prices, and high fuel expenses. However, the widespread use of substandard and counterfeit seeds emerged as a central concern.

Dr Mahboob Ali Sial, Director of the Nuclear Institute of Agriculture (NIA), emphasised that Pakistan has struggled to produce certified, climate-resilient seed varieties despite being highly vulnerable to climate impacts. He noted that research institutions and plant breeders must take greater responsibility in addressing this gap. He added that the NIA is currently working on developing 41 seed varieties aimed at improving resilience and productivity.

Echoing similar concerns, Sindh Abadgar Board Senior Vice President Syed Nadeem Shah highlighted additional challenges such as the misuse of fertilisers and the prevalence of ineffective pesticides. These issues, he said, have not only reduced yields but also pushed farmers to shift to alternative crops. Shah criticised inconsistent agricultural policies and the absence of reliable data, arguing that these structural weaknesses have accelerated the sector's decline. He proposed establishing a breeders' advisory board to coordinate efforts among stakeholders, as cited by The Express Tribune.

Meanwhile, an agricultural expert from China, Wang Xin Chen, shared that collaborative efforts are underway between Chinese researchers, Pakistan's private sector, and local institutions to develop improved seed varieties for cotton and other crops, as reported by The Express Tribune.

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