Cotton has always remained a crop of social,
religious, and economic importance throughout the ages of mankind. There
is a great controversy as to the original home of cotton but a majority
of historians do agree that it has its beginning in the area presently
constituted by Pakistan. Although species of the plant are native to all
tropical and semitropical countries yet in modern commerce had its
beginning in India.
Similarly, the Encyclopedia Britannica states that,
the use of fiber, a mass of unicellular hairs, which grow attached to
the seed on all types of cotton plants, has been traced as for as 3000
BC. Though spun cotton yarns found in the ruins of Mohan-jo-daro, a city
of the Indus valley and it is also learnt that how the patient hands of
women of India plucked lint from seed, carded it, and spun yarn for
weaving on their crude hand looms.
It is clear from all the sources that cotton, the
mother of civilization, is the first production of the East and that the
esteem goes to the Sindh which bestowed its fiber of civilization to the
whole world. Thus cotton is indeed a 'queen' from Sindh, whose bloom has
never faded and whose sovereignty has never been shared by any one so
far.
At present cotton is grown all over the world. It is
grown extensively near about 50 countries. In Pakistan cotton has been
the most important contributor to the growth of national economy and it
occupies the chief position in foreign exchange earnings of the country.
It is because of its significance that its area,
production and the per hectare yield has increased year after year, but
in some year it declined due to the virus attack, unfavoUrable climatic
conditions at the time of sowing and harvesting.
AREA UNDER COTTON CROP
Cotton was cultivated on an area of about 1.2 million
hectares in 1947. The area under cotton crop kept on increasing and in
the year 1980-81 it was 2.188 million hectares. It is evident from the
table-1 that the area under cotton crop has increased from 2.662 million
hectares in 1990-91 to 2.983 million hectares in 1999-2000.
It is clear that during 20 year i.e., from 1980-81 to
1999-2000, the area under this precious cash crop has increased
successively except the period 1989-90, 1994-95 and 1997-98 where the
area under this crop have declined due to some extent. Table-1 shows the
provinces wise area of cotton crop.
|
TABLE-1: AREA UNDER
COTTON CROP
(000 HECTARE) |
|
Year |
Sindh |
Punjab |
NWFP |
Balochistan |
Pakistan |
% (+)( -) |
|
1980-81 |
599.0 |
1506.2 |
2.3 |
1.0 |
2108.5 |
- |
|
1981-82 |
637.0 |
1573.1 |
2.8 |
0.3 |
2214.1 |
5.00 |
|
1982-83 |
647.0 |
1612.7 |
2.7 |
0.5 |
2262.9 |
2.20 |
|
1983-84 |
655.5 |
1562.5 |
2.5 |
0.2 |
2220.7 |
-1.86 |
|
1984-85 |
671.1 |
1567.7 |
2.4 |
0.4 |
2241.6 |
0.94 |
|
1985-86 |
615.4 |
1745.8 |
2.3 |
0.6 |
2364.1 |
5.46 |
|
1986-87 |
638.3 |
1864.0 |
2.2 |
0.7 |
2505.2 |
5.96 |
|
1987-88 |
629.6 |
1935.6 |
2.1 |
0.5 |
2567.8 |
2.49 |
|
1988-89 |
564.0 |
2053.8 |
1.4 |
0.2 |
2619.4 |
2.00 |
|
1989-90 |
561.3 |
2035.9 |
1.1 |
0.2 |
2598.5 |
-0.8 |
|
1990-91 |
536.6 |
2124.6 |
0.8 |
0.2 |
2662.2 |
2.45 |
|
1991-92 |
547.6 |
2286.9 |
0.8 |
0.2 |
2835.5 |
6.50 |
|
1992-93 |
397.4 |
2437.8 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
2835.9 |
0.01 |
|
1993-94 |
554.9 |
2249.2 |
0.2 |
0.3 |
2804.6 |
-1.10 |
|
1994-95 |
405.6 |
2244.4 |
0.3 |
2.5 |
2652.8 |
-5.41 |
|
1995-96 |
529.3 |
2463.3 |
0.2 |
4.5 |
2997.3 |
12.98 |
|
1996-97 |
601.2 |
2540.2 |
0.3 |
6.9 |
3148.6 |
5.09 |
|
1997-98 |
600.3 |
2348.4 |
0.5 |
10.5 |
2959.7 |
-5.99 |
|
1998-99 |
630.2 |
2282.8 |
0.4 |
9.4 |
2922.8 |
-1.24 |
|
1999-2000 |
633.5 |
2329.3 |
0.3 |
20.0 |
2983.1 |
2.06 |
|
Total |
11655.7 |
40764.2 |
26.1 |
59.3 |
52505.3 |
|
|
Average |
582.78 |
2038.2 |
|
2.965 |
2625.26 |
|
|
Share of each |
22.199 |
77.64 |
0.0497 |
0.1129 |
100 |
|
| Source:
Agricultural Statistics of Pakistan 1999-2000, Government of
Pakistan, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and LiveStock, Division,
Economic Wing Islamabad. P., 29 |
The Table-1 reveAls that the area under cultivation
of cotton has been increasing during the period from 1980-81 to
1999-2000. It is ascertained that it was 2108.5 thousand hectares in the
year 1980-81, out of it 599 thousand hectare were grown in Sindh, 1506.2
thousand hectares were grown in Punjab, 2.3 thousand hectares were grown
in NWFP and 1.0 thousand hectares were grown in Balochistan. Similarly
total area under cultivation of wheat increased to 2983.1 thousand
hectares in 1999-2000, from it 633.3 thousand hectares were grown in
Sindh, 2329.3 thousand hectare were grown in Punjab, 0.3 thousands
hectares were grown in NWFP and 20.0 thousands hectares were grown in
Balochistan. Thus we can say that total area under cultivation of cotton
crop during 1999-2000 was 41.47% more when compared to that of 1980-81.
Thus it can be concluded that in Sindh and Balochistan production of
cotton increased because people have given divorce to rice and sugarcane
crop due to the shortage of water.
The cotton production during 1999-2000 was 11.240
million bales, which speaks of the untiring efforts made by the growing
community for producing such a sizable crop despite irrigation water
scarcity for which they need to be acknowledged. Government authority
urged the entire cotton textile industry that the growers should be
properly rewarded for their hard labour.
Now cotton quality plays a much significant role in
determining the market value. With the fast approaching 2005, when the
quotas will vanish, every nation will have to compete and create its
credibility in the free international market, in this regard necessary
measures are thus urgently needed to upgrade the status of Pakistani
cotton in the world market. This also calls for rapid improvement in the
cotton production and ginning process through proper handling procedures
and ginning practice. The Pervez Musharraf government is well prepared
to provide all the possible support to the private sector for producing
high quality and contamination free cotton.
The private sector stakeholders are also required to
play a more important role in implementing such a programme to the
benefit of all the segments of the cotton economy.
Since the establishment of Pakistan, Production of
cotton was 1.10 million bales has increased to 4.201 million bales in
1980-81.
The data pertaining to the production of cotton crop
in Pakistan during the period under study can be reviewed from the table
2.
|
TABLE
-2: PRODUCTION OF COTTON CROP (000 BALES) |
|
Year |
Sindh |
Punjab |
NWFP |
Balochistan |
Pakistan |
% (+)( -) |
|
1980-81 |
1406.9 |
2789.3 |
2.8 |
2.0 |
4201.0 |
- |
|
1981-82 |
1550.2 |
2844.2 |
3.4 |
0.5 |
4398.3 |
4.696 |
|
1982-83 |
1584.5 |
3255.2 |
3.3 |
0.9 |
4843.9 |
10.131 |
|
1983-84 |
1210.0 |
1694.2 |
3.0 |
0.5 |
2907.7 |
-33.955 |
|
1984-85 |
1475.6 |
4450.9 |
3.0 |
0.9 |
5930.4 |
103.955 |
|
1985-86 |
1449.2 |
5701.2 |
2.9 |
1.2 |
7154.5 |
20.641 |
|
1986-87 |
1304.6 |
6451.0 |
2.8 |
1.3 |
7759.7 |
8.459 |
|
1987-88 |
1373.7 |
7255.4 |
2.7 |
1.1 |
8632.9 |
11.253 |
|
1988-89 |
1108.0 |
7274.8 |
1.8 |
0.5 |
8385.1 |
-2.870 |
|
1989-90 |
1103.4 |
7454.2 |
1.7 |
0.5 |
8559.8 |
2.083 |
|
1990-91 |
1124.6 |
8501.3 |
1.3 |
0.5 |
9627.7 |
12.475 |
|
1991-92 |
1403.2 |
11416.8 |
1.7 |
0.5 |
12822.2 |
33.180 |
|
1992-93 |
815.5 |
8237.1 |
0.7 |
0.5 |
9053.8 |
-29389 |
|
1993-94 |
1417.0 |
6523.0 |
0.4 |
0.7 |
8041.1 |
-11.185 |
|
1994-95 |
1282.1 |
7410.0 |
0.4 |
4.6 |
8697.1 |
8.158 |
|
1995-96 |
1882.1 |
8720.0 |
0.3 |
13.1 |
10594.9 |
21.821 |
|
1996-97 |
1861.5 |
7103.4 |
0.6 |
20.0 |
9374.2 |
-11.521 |
|
1997-98 |
2250.2 |
6817.0 |
0.8 |
30.5 |
9183.8 |
-02.031 |
|
1998-99 |
1335.5 |
6628.0 |
0.7 |
27.4 |
8790.2 |
-4.285 |
|
1999-2000 |
2377.4 |
8804.0 |
0.6 |
58.0 |
11240.0 |
27.869 |
|
Total |
30667.2 |
129331 |
34.9 |
165.2 |
160198.4 |
- |
|
Average |
1533.36 |
6466.55 |
1.745 |
8.26 |
8009.92 |
- |
|
Share of each Province |
19.143 |
80.73 |
0.021 |
1.103 |
100 |
- |
|
% increase over the period |
69% |
216% |
-7879% |
2800% |
- |
- |
| Source:
Agricultural Statistics of Pakistan 1999-2000, Government of
Pakistan, Ministry of Food, Agriculture & Livestock
Division, Economic Wing Islamabad pp-29-30 |
It is clear from the table-2 that the production of
cotton had attained a record level in 1991-92 and in 1999-2000. Pakistan
on an average produced 8009.91 thousand bales cotton annually during the
period from 1980-81 to 1999-2000. Out of the total production of cotton
in Pakistan, Sindh shared 19.14%, Punjab shared 80.73%, NWFP 0.021% and
Balochistan 0.103%. Production of cotton increased mainly due to the
introduction of new varieties of cotton in the country.
PER HECTARE YEILD OF COTTON
The per hectare yield of cotton in Pakistan during
the period under review as shown in table 3.
|
TABLE-3:
YIELD PER HECTARE IN KGS |
|
Year |
Punjab |
Sindh |
NWFP |
Balochistan |
Pakistan |
|
1980-81 |
315 |
399 |
207 |
340 |
339 |
|
1981-82 |
308 |
413 |
207 |
283 |
338 |
|
1982-83 |
343 |
417 |
208 |
306 |
364 |
|
1983-84 |
184 |
314 |
204 |
425 |
223 |
|
1984-85 |
483 |
374 |
213 |
383 |
450 |
|
1985-86 |
555 |
401 |
214 |
340 |
515 |
|
1986-87 |
589 |
348 |
216 |
316 |
527 |
|
1987-88 |
638 |
371 |
219 |
375 |
572 |
|
1988-89 |
602 |
334 |
219 |
425 |
544 |
|
1989-90 |
623 |
334 |
263 |
425 |
560 |
|
1990-91 |
681 |
356 |
276 |
425 |
615 |
|
1991-92 |
849 |
435 |
361 |
425 |
769 |
|
1992-93 |
574 |
349 |
238 |
425 |
543 |
|
1993-94 |
493 |
465 |
340 |
595 |
488 |
|
1994-95 |
561 |
537 |
226 |
312 |
557 |
|
1995-96 |
602 |
598 |
255 |
495 |
601 |
|
1996-97 |
475 |
636 |
340 |
495 |
506 |
|
1997-98 |
494 |
662 |
272 |
494 |
528 |
|
1998-99 |
494 |
576 |
298 |
496 |
512 |
|
1999-2000 |
643 |
638 |
340 |
493 |
641 |
|
Total |
10506 |
8957 |
5116 |
8273 |
10192 |
|
Average |
525.3 |
447.85 |
255.8 |
413.65 |
509 |
| Source:
Agricultural Statistics, Government of Pakistan p-29 |
It is the evident from the table 3 that the yield of
cotton crop has increased from 339 kgs per hectare in the year 1980-81
to 641 kgs per hectare in 1999-2000. The yield of cotton crop increased
89% during the study period .the maximum yield was 769kgs per hectare in
the year 1991-92 and minimum yield was 223 kgs in the year 1983-84.
Study ascertained that average per hectare yield in
Punjab province ranks at the top when compared to Sindh, NWFP and
Balochistan. It was average 525.3 kgs per hectare in Punjab whereas it
was 447.85 kgs per hectare in Sindh, 225 kgs per hectare in NWFP and
413.60 kgs in Balochistan during cropping year 1980-81 to 1999-2000.
Thus there has been overall increase in the per
hectare yield of cotton during most of the year under review, however in
some of the years it declined.
For the first time in the cotton growing history of
Pakistan the seed cotton world average was 1620 kgs per hectare but
Pakistan seed cotton per hectare yield was 1923 kgs, it means it was
18.17 % more in the year 1997. As evidence is given in the table 4.
|
TABLE-4:
AREA, PRODUCTION AND YIELD PERE HECTARE OF COTTON CROP IN THE
MAIN GROWING COUNTRIES |
|
S.No.
|
NAME
OF COUNTRY |
Area
(000) Hectares |
Production
(000) Tonnes |
Yield
(Kgs/ hectare) |
| |
|
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
|
1 |
India |
8850 |
9070 |
9070 |
7913 |
7720 |
7720 |
894 |
851 |
851 |
|
2 |
USA |
5425 |
4324 |
5489 |
10382 |
7897 |
9817 |
1914 |
1827 |
1789 |
|
3 |
China |
4491 |
4280 |
4183 |
13809 |
13503 |
12000 |
3075 |
3155 |
2869 |
|
4 |
Brazil |
662 |
824 |
678 |
836 |
1176 |
1395 |
1262 |
1427 |
2059 |
|
5 |
Pakistan |
2960 |
2923 |
2983 |
4686 |
4485 |
5735 |
1584 |
1536 |
1923 |
|
6 |
Turkey |
722 |
731 |
731 |
2105 |
2093 |
2093 |
2917 |
2864 |
2864 |
|
7 |
Egypt |
368 |
310 |
350 |
950 |
630 |
790 |
2582 |
2032 |
2257 |
|
8 |
Mexico |
207 |
218 |
160 |
632 |
659 |
659 |
3053 |
3021 |
4121 |
|
9 |
Sudan |
162 |
108 |
140 |
234 |
155 |
205 |
1443 |
1462 |
1464 |
|
10 |
Iran |
238 |
229 |
229 |
451 |
460 |
460 |
1891 |
2004 |
2004 |
|
11 |
World |
33726 |
33006 |
34308 |
56782 |
53195 |
55573 |
1684 |
1612 |
1620 |
| Source:
FAO Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics 1999 vol. 12 p-3,4 |
It is also clear from the table 4 that the Pakistan
ranked fourth globally area in production .it is also clear from the
above study that cotton is the main cash crop which contributes
significantly to national economy. It accounts for 11.7 per cent of
value added in agriculture and 2.9 % of GDP. In addition to providing
raw material to the local textile industry, the lint cotton is a major
export item. As against the target 9.7 million bales, the size of the
cotton crop is estimated at 11.240 million bales in the year 1999-2000
which is 27.9% higher than the year 1998-1999. The cotton crop increased
due to mainly to an increase in the area because of the shifting of
sugarcane area to cotton crop and less attack of insect, pests /diseases
on the crop during the year.
EXPORT OF RAW COTTON
Our country is one of the leading exporters of cotton
in the world. The export of raw cotton increased from 325 thousand
metric tons, earned Rs 52.03 billion in 1980-81 which enhanced to 840
thousand metric tons worth Rs 180.32 billion in the year 1988-89 which
enhanced to 840 thousand metric tons worth Rs. 180.32 billion in the
year 1988-89. After 1991-92 the export of cotton declined continuously
and it reached to only 2 thousand metric tonnes worth Rs. 1.16 billion.
As shown in the table-5
|
TABLE-5:
EXPORT OF COTTON FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1980-81 TO 1999-2000 |
|
Year |
Quantity
(000) metric tonnes |
Value
Rs. in million |
Unit
Value Rs./mt |
|
1980-81 |
325 |
5203 |
16010 |
|
1981-82 |
231 |
2938 |
12719 |
|
1982-83 |
255 |
3897 |
15282 |
|
1983-84 |
98 |
1772 |
18082 |
|
1984-85 |
263 |
4368 |
16608 |
|
1985-86 |
639 |
8291 |
12975 |
|
1986-87 |
641 |
7676 |
11975 |
|
1987-88 |
502 |
10759 |
21432 |
|
1988-89 |
840 |
1832 |
21467 |
|
1989-90 |
295 |
9550 |
32426 |
|
1990-91 |
282 |
9553 |
33910 |
|
1991-92 |
455 |
