Cotton

 Pakistan is renowned for being one of the world's top producers of cotton. Pakistan's economy greatly benefits from cotton, a big cash crop. However, Pakistan has experienced a fall in cotton production over the past few years, and the nation is very concerned about this decline (Ali et al., 2020; Frederick et al., 2019; Khan et al., 2020).

This reduction has a number of causes, including bad farming practises, pest assaults, lack of research and development, and climate change. These causes will be covered in-depth in this blog, along with proposed remedies that can resurrect Pakistan's cotton sector.

Climate Change

One of the primary causes of Pakistan's declining cotton production is climate change. The growth and yield of cotton crops have been negatively impacted by the rising temperature brought on by the changing weather patterns. The health of the cotton crop can be greatly affected by changes in temperature and moisture because the crop is so sensitive to these conditions.

Additionally, the decrease in rainfall brought on by the altering weather patterns has been essential to the growth and development of cotton crops. A lack of water as a result of the decreased rainfall has harmed the yield of the cotton crop.

Pest Attacks

Attacks by pests are yet another important factor causing Pakistan's cotton production to decline. Cotton crops are extremely vulnerable to pest infestations, and if pests are not controlled, they can seriously harm the crop. Bollworms and whiteflies are the most frequent pests that attack cotton crops in Pakistan (Ali et al., 2019; Naveed et al., 2020).

A particular species of moth called a "bollworm" lays its eggs on the cotton plant's bolls. If not controlled, the larvae that emerge from these eggs feed on the cotton seeds and can seriously harm the crop. The cotton plant wilts and eventually dies as a result of whiteflies sucking the sap from its leaves (Fand et al., 2020).

Research and development gaps

Another factor affecting Pakistan's declining cotton production is the absence of research and development in the sector. Lack of R&D spending in Pakistan's cotton business has resulted in a lack of innovation in agricultural techniques and pest management strategies (Abbas, 2020).

Additionally, a lack of research and development has resulted in incorrect farming methods and lower crop yields due to a lack of knowledge about the best ways to use pesticides and fertilisers.

Inefficient Farming Methods

Poor farming methods are a significant contributor to Pakistan's declining cotton production. Farmers in Pakistan frequently use antiquated farming techniques that are ineffective given the country's current climatic conditions and pest problems.

In addition, farmers frequently overuse pesticides and fertilisers, which can degrade the soil and lower crop yields. Additionally, overuse of pesticides and fertilisers can harm the environment and pose health risks.

Solutions to Revive the Cotton Industry in Pakistan

To revive the cotton industry in Pakistan, several solutions need to be implemented. These solutions include:

Developing Drought-Resistant Cotton Varieties

Creating cotton cultivars that can withstand droughts will help cotton output withstand the negative consequences of climate change. Because they can endure high temperatures and use less water, these types can lessen the effect of decreased rainfall on the cotton crop's production (Saleem et al., 2020; Zafar et al., 2021).

Investing in Research and Development

Research and development funding are essential for Pakistan's cotton sector to recover. New farming techniques and pest management strategies that are suitable for the nation's present weather patterns and most common pests can be found with the help of research.

Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Methods

Promoting environmentally friendly agricultural methods can aid in reducing the overuse of pesticides and fertilisers, which can result in soil degradation and lower crop yields. The use of sustainable agricultural methods can also improve the health of farmers and consumers while lowering the environmental impact of cotton production.

Providing Financial Access

Providing access to capital is vital for farmers to adopt modern farming practices, purchase high-quality seeds and fertilizers, and invest in new technologies. The government and banking institutions should adopt policies and programs to enable farmers with access to finance at affordable rates.

Increasing Awareness and Education

Increasing awareness and education among farmers can assist promote the use of modern farming practices and pest control methods. Farmers should be supplied with information about innovative agricultural techniques, the appropriate use of fertilizers and pesticides, and the benefits of sustainable farming practices.

Strengthening the Cotton Value Chain

In Pakistan, the cotton industry may expand and farmers' incomes can be raised through strengthening the cotton value chain. Together, the public and private sectors should create a productive value chain that links farmers to consumers, processors, and exporters.

Conclusion

Pakistan's declining cotton production is a major source of concern for the nation. The main causes of this reduction are bad farming practises, pest infestations, lack of research and development, and climate change. However, there are a number of potential solutions that could aid in reviving the Pakistani cotton industry, such as creating cotton varieties that are resistant to drought, investing in research and development, encouraging sustainable farming methods, granting access to finance, raising farmer awareness and education, and bolstering the cotton value chain.

In order to put these proposals into action and encourage the expansion of Pakistan's cotton industry, the government, private sector, and farmers should collaborate. Reviving the cotton sector may not only improve the economy of the nation but also advance the health and happiness of farmers and customers and support the nation's sustainable growth.

References

Abbas, S. (2020). Climate change and cotton production: an empirical investigation of Pakistan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 27(23), 29580-29588.

Ali, M. A., Farooq, J., Batool, A., Zahoor, A., Azeem, F., Mahmood, A., & Jabran, K. (2019). Cotton production in Pakistan. Cotton production, 249-276.

Ali, M. Y., Saleem, S., Irshad, M. N., Mehmood, A., Nisar, M., & Ali, I. (2020). Comparative study of different irrigation system for cotton crop in district Rahim Yar khan, Punjab, Pakistan. International Journal of Agricultural Extension, 8(2), 131-138.

Fand, B. B., Nagrare, V., Deshmukh, V., Naikwadi, B., Gokte-Narkhedkar, N., & Waghmare, V. (2020). A simple and low-cost laboratory rearing technique for pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Suanders)(Lepidoptera: Gelechidae) using detached green bolls of cotton. Phytoparasitica, 48, 25-33.

Frederick, S., Daly, J., & Center, D. G. V. C. (2019). Pakistan in the apparel global value chain. Duke Global Value Chains Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States.

Khan, M. A., Wahid, A., Ahmad, M., Tahir, M. T., Ahmed, M., Ahmad, S., & Hasanuzzaman, M. (2020). World cotton production and consumption: An overview. Cotton production and uses: Agronomy, crop protection, and postharvest technologies, 1-7.

Naveed, M., Khan, R., Akhtar, K., & Hussain, M. (2020). Response of cotton varieties against insect pests and cotton leaf curl disease. S. Asian J. Life Sci, 8(1), 1-5.

Saleem, M. A., Qayyum, A., Malik, W., & Amjid, M. W. (2020). Molecular breeding of cotton for drought stress tolerance. Cotton production and uses: Agronomy, crop protection, and postharvest technologies, 495-508.

Zafar, M. M., Manan, A., Razzaq, A., Zulfqar, M., Saeed, A., Kashif, M., . . . Iqbal, M. S. (2021). Exploiting agronomic and biochemical traits to develop heat resilient cotton cultivars under climate change scenarios. Agronomy, 11(9), 1885.

About the Author: Qudrat Ullah is an MPhil student of Environmental Science at Government College University Faisalabad. He is dedicated and motivated individual with a passion for exploring the impact of human activities on the environment. He aims to contribute towards creating a sustainable and healthy environment for the present and future generations.