Cotton production has surpassed all previous records as the arrival recorded at ginneries as on February 1 stood at 14.016 million bales, showing an increase of 61.6 percent over the corresponding period of the last year. According to the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association's (PCGA) fortnightly report released on Thursday and made available to Business Recorder, Punjab - the major cotton producing province - contributed 11.104 million bales to take the total to 14.016 million bales.

District-wise production data showed that Multan contributed 0.968 million bales; Lodhran (0.572 million bales); Khanewal (0.740 million bales); Muzaffargarh (0.695 million bales); Dera Ghazi Khan (0.591 million bales); Rajanpur (0.870 million bales); Layyah (0.110 million bales); Vehari (1.049 million bales); Sahiwal (0.469 million bales); Pakpattan (0.164 million bales); Okara (0.038 million bales); Kasur (0.30 million bales); Toba Tek Singh (0.314 million bales); Faisalabad (0.232 million bales); Jhang (0.208 million bales); Mianwali (0.008 million bales); Bhakkar (0.040 million bales); Rahim Yar Khan (1.804 million bales); Bahawalpur (1.386 million bales); and Bahawalnagar (1.002 million bales).

Sindh's shared in the arrival was 2.911 million bales. Its district-wise production figures are also very encouraging.

The report indicated that Hyderabad shared 0.180 million bales, Mirpurkhas (0.234 million bales); Sanghar (0.908 million bales); Nawabshah (0.284 million bales); Naushero Feroze (0.221 million bales); Khairpur (0.217 million bales); Ghotki (0.456 million bales); Sukkur (0.262 million bales); and Dadu (0.097 million bales).

Balochistan added 0.028 million bales to the total. The arrival recorded so far is the highest figure Pakistan ever had. The highest crop volume would brighten the prospects for growth target of 7 percent for the current fiscal year.

Policy-makers may hope that bumper cotton crop will help the government make deficiency in other areas, taking the annual growth rates to over 7 percent.

PCGA chairman Haji Ibrahim expected arrival of another 0.5 million bales during February to take the crop volume to 14.5 million bales for 2004-05.

The report said the ginners pressed 13.719 million bales. The Trading Corporation of Pakistan lifted 1.568 million bales and 0.491 million bales were exported by commercial exporters.

The textile industry purchased 10.535 million bales and 1.125 million bales were available with ginners as unsold stock.

Official departments have estimated cotton production for 2004-05 at 14.6 million bales. The cotton crop committee, which met in Lahore last year, revised its pervious estimate of 13.2 million bales and projected it at 14.6 million bales.

The arrival pace indicates that this target was well within reach.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005