ISLAMABAD: The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) has expressed concern over reports of historically low cotton acreage in Punjab during the current season while simultaneously warning about widespread thrips infestations affecting cotton fields across major growing regions of the province.
In a letter addressed to Punjab Secretary Agriculture Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, Chairperson of Aptma Kamran Arshad acknowledged the efforts of the Punjab agriculture department for promoting cotton cultivation and supporting the revival of the crop. However, he emphasised that the current cotton season requires close monitoring and timely intervention to safeguard production prospects and strengthen confidence across the agricultural and textile sectors.
The textile industry’s concerns come at a critical time when Pakistan remains increasingly dependent on imported cotton due to several years of declining domestic production, placing additional pressure on foreign exchange reserves and creating uncertainty for the country’s largest export-oriented industry.
According to the association, Aptma teams recently conducted field visits across key cotton-producing districts, including Multan, Khanewal, Lodhran, Vehari and adjoining areas, to assess ground realities and farmer response during the ongoing sowing season.
The association reported mixed findings from these visits. While cotton acreage in several regions appeared lower than expected, crop conditions in many early and timely sown fields were found to be encouraging. Favourable weather conditions, supportive temperatures and good fruit setting were observed in numerous fields, suggesting that yield potential remains promising if the crop receives proper management during the critical growth stages ahead.
Despite these positive indicators, Aptma highlighted a widespread infestation of thrips as an emerging threat to crop development. Field observations revealed that thrips populations had reached concerning levels in many cotton-growing areas of Punjab. In several locations, delayed pest management measures had already begun affecting vegetative growth, fruit retention, and overall crop vigour.
The association warned that given the sensitivity of the crop at its current stage, immediate action is required to prevent economic losses and protect yield potential. It urged the agriculture department to intensify pest surveillance activities and provide practical, area-specific advisory services to farmers regarding pest scouting, economic threshold levels, and appropriate management strategies for thrips and other emerging pests.
Seeking greater transparency and improved crop intelligence, Aptma formally requested the Punjab agriculture department to initiate a comprehensive crop monitoring and reporting mechanism for the 2026-27 cotton season.
Among its key recommendations, the association called for the publication of regular weekly reports on cotton crop conditions across all cotton-growing districts of Punjab. It also requested updated district-wise and tehsil-wise sowing data and acreage statistics to enable more accurate assessments of the crop situation.
Aptma further sought access to available farmer-wise or cluster-wise sowing information, where feasible, arguing that more detailed field-level data would facilitate better understanding of production trends and strengthen coordination between growers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
Recognising the importance of realistic production estimates, the association urged the department to develop and circulate scientifically based cotton production forecasts for the 2026-27 season. It emphasised that reliable forecasting would help policymakers, traders, ginners, exporters, and textile manufacturers make informed decisions regarding procurement, imports, and market planning.
The association also requested that the government share periodic updates on crop health, pest pressure, weather impacts, and expected yield trends throughout the season, enabling stakeholders to monitor developments and respond proactively to emerging challenges.
Aptma noted that timely dissemination of reliable field data, acreage updates, and production forecasts would support national planning, improve market stability, and strengthen preparedness across the cotton and textile value chain.
Reaffirming its support for the government’s cotton revival agenda, the association stated that it remains fully committed to collaborating with the province’s agriculture department on technical, research and field-level initiatives aimed at improving cotton productivity and supporting farmers.
