Cotton (Cash Crop)

Introduction
Cotton is considered to be the most important cash crop of Pakistan.Pakistan,ranks
fifth in world cotton production.It is outstanding among vegetable,animal and
synthetic fibers,accounting for approximately one half of the all materials that are
made into cloth.Besides the preparation of a number of its products ,we also earn a
large amount of foreign exchange from its export to other countries .Its importance
may be estimated from the fact that it contributes 15% to the G.N.P The entire
textile industry directly or indirectly depends upon it.It provides employment to
2/3rd of industrial labour force.
Biological And Historical Reference
Cotton is also known as the "Silver Fiber" .It is a wooly fibre surrounded around the
seeds of the plant the longing to genus "Gossypium".It is known to have been
produced in the Indus plain since 3000 B.C.
Favourable Conditions For Its Growth
1. Temperature:
Humid tropical and sub-tropical savanna climates are both conductive to cotton
growth .At the time of cultivation it requires temperature ranging between 80
degree F to 100 degree F but at the time of picking 50 degree F to 60 degree F
temperature remains sufficient.Frost or severe cold is dangerous for its growth.As
produced commercially,cotton requires a growing season of atleast 180 to 200 frostfree days.
2. Water:
A minimum precipitation amount of 20" and a maximum of 40" per year is
considered to be the optimum requirement for cotton cultivation.The annual rainfall
in Pakistan is less than 20" which is insufficient ,so without artificial irrigation,cotton
cultivation is not possible.It is for this reason that canal and tube well irrigated areas
of Sindh and Punjab are devoted to cotton cultivation.The moisture should be
comparatively even throughout much of the year but retarted during the harvesting
period.
3. Soil:
Cotton grows best on soils which retain moisture at their upper levels and are well
drained at lower depths.Its favours alluvial soil but can do quite well on tighter soils
if sufficient moisture is present to prevent excessive compaction around the plant
roots.The use of natural or artificial manure is essential to maintain the fertility of
soil.
4. Land:

Sea breeze is very helpful for the production of quality cotton.For this reason low
lands near the sea (Sindh areas ) are considered to be ideal situations for its
cultivation.

Cotton Cultivation:
Cotton is a Kharif crop in Pakistan and is cultivated in the summer season.Sowing is
mainly broadcast and begins in April in Sindh and in May or June in Punjab.In
Sindh,picking starts from August.Whereas in Punjab it begins in September or
October.Cotton mostly grows in rows and the minimum distance between row to row
is kept about 11/2 feet .Similarly the minimum distance between plant to plant
remain about 6".
Cotton Growing Areas:
In Pakistan cotton is grown in canal irrigated areas of Punjab and Sindh and also in
some parts of Baluchistan and N.W.F.P.
1. Punjab:
The province of Punjab has a network of canals leading out from the mighty river
Indus and draining the are. (0 % of the crop depends Bahawalpur,Dera Ghazi
Khan,Faisalabad,Sargodha,Lahore and Gujranwala constitute the cotton belt .In
these areas the well-known variety of medium staple cotton is grown.A small
quantity of Desi quality cotton is allowed to be grown for domestic use.Punjab
produces a surplus quantity of cotton and after meeting the local requirements the
rest of it is exported.
2. Sindh:
The province of Sindh also produces a considerable amount of cotton.The canal
irrigated areas of Sindh,constituting Hyderabad and Sukkur division are the main
cotton centres.Here both the American medium staple and Desi qualities of cotton
are grown.Sindh also produces surplus quantity of cotton which is more than the
local requirements.
Average And Production
The following table shows area,production and yield per hectare of cotton during the
last three years:
Period..............Area...............Production....................Yield Per Hectare
...................(000 Hectares)........(000 Tonnes).....................(kg)
1989-90.............2599..................8560.............................561
1990-91.............2662..................9628.............................616
1991-92.............2896..................12500............................734

(provisional)
Exports:(min.Rs.)
1989-90 - 9550
1990-91 - 9553
1991-92 - 5916
(July to March)