Cotton belts were hit hard by recent floods

Cotton cultivation in basic growing zones has been hit hard by recent rains and floods, increasing fears that Pakistan can once again fail to achieve its dream of cotton in 2025-26 cotton.

Along with the flood and rain lesions, virus attacks on sections of Sindh and the cotton zone of Punjab have also been reported. Therefore, the actual scale of damage to cotton cultivation can only be evaluated as the rains and floods recede.

The president of the Cotton Ginners forum, Ihsanul Haq, told The Express Tribune that this year’s cotton season began with a particularly encouraging note to all Pakistan’s zones, with some areas of Punjab and Sindh testifying to the first era of the first -time cotton.

Expectations were high that cotton production would increase by 20-25% compared to last year. However, unexpected rainfall, elevated temperatures, especially at night, humidity and attacks of the virus, have hampered crop growth, causing fears of reduced yields per acre.

“Punjab’s cotton cultivation has suffered the most damage, especially in Bahawalnagar-the largest provinces of cotton-where 40% of the crop is already destroyed.”

He said with more rain and floods forecast in the coming days, further losses are expected.

“In areas with underground fresh water, locally known as Kacha territories, excessive sugar cane cultivation compared to previous years has exacerbated environmental stress, leaving cotton more vulnerable to the attacks of the virus,” he added.

According to weather forecasts, most rainfall in Punjab and Sindh cotton zones this week, along with flood threats in Rahim Yar Khan and other parts of Sindh, could further damage the cotton fields.

Farmers have advised to keep the drainage routes clear so that the flooding and rainfall do not remain on fields for long. Prolonged watercraft could lead to excessive weed growth and expose crops to infections of Armyworm and fungi, which can cause greater damage.

He added that due to reduced arrivals of cotton seeds, several pendulum plants in Punjab and Sindh have gone inactive. Despite the limited availability of fluff, cotton prices have shown a downward trend in recent days, which are reduced by RS16,500-16,600 per maund to RS16,200-16,300 per maund, causing concern for both farmers and jinners.

He also noted that reliable national production data for cotton in the year 2025-26 will only be possible until the first week of October after the full effect of rain and floods is made clear.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister of Commerce Jam Kamal, in a meeting with a large delegation of the owners of textile mills in Islamabad last week, announced that the government would soon present a new five -year textile policy with the aim of reducing exports.