Expressing concern over low cotton production which will become a threat to the textile industry, he said that reduced cotton production will result in imports which will increase the cost of doing business; therefore, steps should be taken in the right direction.
Farmers are losing interest in cotton crop due to increasing problems which is resulting in a reduction in area under cultivation and production which can become a problem to largest urban employment and largest export sector of textile, he said.
He noted that area under cultivation dropped by 12.1 percent in 2018-19 while production fell by 17.5 percent. Last year's cotton production remained at 9.9 million bales which were 11.94 million bales in 2017.18 and 13.96 million bales in 2014-15, he said.