Pakistan has a long history with cotton cultivation, a crop often referred to as “white gold” due to its importance. It stands as a significant global producer, consistently ranking among the top five cotton-producing countries worldwide. The cotton industry connects its economy from farming communities to large-scale textile operations.
Economic Significance
Cotton plays an important role in Pakistan’s economy, contributing to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and serving as a primary source of employment. The textile industry, which relies heavily on cotton, is the largest manufacturing sector in Pakistan. This sector accounts for approximately 8.5% of the country’s GDP.
The cotton sector provides employment opportunities for millions across the supply chain. This includes farmers who cultivate the crop and workers in ginning factories that separate lint from seeds. Around 40% of Pakistan’s industrial labor force is employed in the textile sector, with women making up a substantial portion of garment manufacturing workers.
Cotton and its derived products are also export commodities, generating foreign exchange earnings for Pakistan. The textile industry, dependent on cotton, accounts for approximately 60% of the country’s total exports. Annual textile exports generate between $15 billion and $20 billion in revenue. Pakistan is a major exporter of cotton yarn, fabric, garments, bed linen, and towels, with major destinations including the USA, the European Union, and China.
Cultivation and Characteristics
Cotton cultivation in Pakistan is concentrated primarily in the provinces of Punjab and Sindh, which together form the country’s main cotton belt. This belt stretches over 1200 km along the Indus River, with altitudes ranging from 27 to 155 meters. The regions feature calcareous soils with high pH and low organic matter content.
Cotton thrives in heat and requires well-drained loamy soils with adequate organic matter and good water-holding capacity. Planting occurs during the spring months, and the crop needs consistent watering and application of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers for five to six months before harvest. Irrigation is important during the flowering and fruiting stages to prevent shedding of flowers and bolls, with the first irrigation applied 30 to 35 days after sowing and subsequent irrigations every 12-15 days.
Pakistani cotton fiber is recognized for its quality, including its strength, length, and fineness, which make it suitable for various textile products. Government-enforced fiber quality standards include a staple length of more than 28mm, lint percentage above 37.5%, and a fineness ranging from 3.8 to 4.9 micrograms per inch (ug/inch). The fiber strength is 92 and above (tppsi), with a uniformity ratio of at least 48% and fiber maturity of 80%. These characteristics influence its end-use, making it preferred for high-end textiles like premium terry products and bed linens.
Challenges Facing Pakistan Cotton
The cotton industry in Pakistan faces several challenges, including environmental issues, pest management, and concerns about cotton quality. Climate change presents an obstacle, leading to rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and water scarcity. Higher temperatures can hinder photosynthesis and trigger the shedding of flowers and bolls, reducing yields and quality. Unpredictable rainfall, including prolonged dry spells and heavy rains causing waterlogging and floods, exacerbates water stress and crop damage.
Pest management remains an issue, with climate change creating favorable conditions for the proliferation of pests like pink bollworm, whitefly, armyworm, and mealybug. The widespread use of genetically modified Bt cotton seeds has led to a loss of pest resistance, making crops more vulnerable and increasing the need for pesticides that many smallholder farmers cannot afford. The Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV) also poses a threat to cotton production.
Cotton quality is another concern, impacted by contamination and varietal purity. The continued reliance on manual labor for cotton picking, due to limited mechanization, can lead to inefficiencies and contamination, affecting both yield and fiber quality. Addressing these challenges requires improved farming techniques, sustained research and development efforts to create heat and drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and high-yield seed varieties, and better infrastructure to support cotton cultivation and processing.