CCAC Revies Production Estimates Downword

The Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC) on Thursday revised cotton production estimates downward for the second time in the current season to 11.039 million bales against the initial estimates of 14.1 million bales for the current season (2016-17). Second meeting of CCAC for the season 2016-17 was held to assess the volume of current cotton crop in the country, under the chairmanship of HassanIqbal, Federal Secretary Ministry of Textile Industry.The country had missed the crop production target by around30 percent in 2015-16 and it remained around 10 million bales, which according to Finance Minister caused 0.5 percent to GDP growth. However, according to sources the prospects for the current season are not very bright as well and the country may face significant shortfall in the crop production as well.Plant Protection Department, Trading Cooperation of Pakistan (TCP), cotton growers from Punjab, representatives of Pest Warning Department, Punjab, Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) attended the meeting. The Chair welcomed the participants and appreciated the stakeholders' interest and participation in the process of cotton crop assessment and described the objectives of the meeting.Dr Khalid Abdullah, Cotton Commissioner dilated the overview of cotton crop production in the country and challenges faced by the cotton crop especially of climate andpests like pink boll worm and white fly. The house was told that cotton sowing has decreased by 21 percent in Punjab however; it was increased by 2 percent in Sindh, with overall decrease by 15 percent than the last year. This decrease in area has proportionately depicted in the production as well.Director, Crop Reporting Services Punjab conveyed the production figures by SMS whereas Director Crop Sindh telephonically told the cotton assessment by phone. The house agreed to the following crop size of 170kg bale. The government has downward revised cotton production target as well as area and fixed at 14.1 million bales from 7.4 millionacres for the season 2016-17 against 15.49 million bales from 7.7 million acres estimated for 2015-16.Punjab was expected to produce 9.5 million cotton bales from 5.9 million acres, Sindh had to cover 1.6 million acres and was estimated to produce 4.5 million cotton bales, Balochistan had to grow cotton on 0.12 million acres and was targeted to produce 0.04 million cotton bales and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was targeted to cover about 74000 acres and produce 0.0015 million cotton bales.CCAC revised downward cotton production estimates for thesecond time and Punjab is estimated to produce 7.3 million bales against the initial estimates of 9.5 million, Sindh 3.7 million bales against 4.5 million, Balochistan 0.038 million bales against initial estimate of 0.098 million bales and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 0.001 million bales against 0.0015 million bales.Grower representative from Punjab, agreed to the assessment whereas Chairman PCGA was of the opinion thatcrop size in Punjab is about 7.5 to 8.0 million bales, considering the point of view of this important stakeholder, the chair in concurrence of the house considered the production of Punjab as 7.3 million bales. Cotton growers emphasised the need of extensive awareness campaign for pest management or rain damage. It is further added that all the data is based on 170kg bale weight. Secretary MinTex said that cotton crop size is assessed on the basis of data provided by provincial governments, which has good infrastructure for the same, and ensured the third assessment will be held after 3 to 4 weeks.News SourceNews Collated byPAKISSAN.comCourtesy www.brecorder.com