Punjab Agriculture Department Launches Early Cotton Sowing Campaign

The Punjab agriculture department has recently launched a campaign to promote early cotton sowing, targeting 700,000 acres for the 2026-27 season. This initiative aims to enhance production quality and address climate-related challenges. According to the Tribune Latest, Multan Division alone has a target of cultivating cotton on 315,000 acres, with 16,000 acres already sown and 20,244 farmers registered under the program. District-wise targets include 62,811 acres for Multan and 92,484 acres for Vehari, as outlined by Director Agriculture (Extension) Shehzad Sabir. Commissioner Aamir Kareem Khan emphasized the need for active engagement from field staff to support farmers' issues. Meanwhile, the Brecorder highlights a concerning backdrop: Pakistan's cotton sector is facing a crisis, with the country losing its self-sufficiency in cotton production and becoming increasingly reliant on imports, which strain the national economy. A report from EMPAK Strategies indicates that while cotton production is estimated at approximately five million bales this season, it is still significantly below the levels of a decade ago, with production having plummeted from around seven million bales in 2015-16 to about 3.9 million bales in 2022-23 due to environmental and policy challenges. The report warns that the recovery is fragile, with Pakistan spending an estimated two to three billion dollars annually on cotton imports to meet domestic demand.