By Azam Tariq

Pakistan can revive its cotton sector through deeper research cooperation with China, as joint work on seed technology, germplasm, mechanisation and climate-resilient varieties could help reverse years of declining production and strengthen the raw material base of the country's textile industry, experts say.

The prospect has gained momentum following recent discussions under the Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI), where officials outlined plans for joint breeding programmes, adaptability trials of Chinese high-yield cotton varieties and the establishment of a biotechnology Centre of Excellence at the Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI).

Pakistan's cotton production fell to 5.6 million bales last season, the lowest level in three decades, according to Adeel Munawar, Commercial Ambassador of the PCJCCI. Domestic textile mills, meanwhile, require more than 12 million bales annually, according to the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA).

Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, Bilal Janjua, Vice President of the Pakistan-China Commerce Alliance Institute and Chairman of the China-Pakistan Information Centre, said agricultural cooperation with China could play a vital role in reviving Pakistan's cotton sector.

He said China has developed extensive expertise in seed technology, cultivation methods, mechanisation and farm management that Pakistan could adapt to its own agro-climatic conditions.

"China is one of the world's largest cotton producers and has accumulated considerable technical expertise across the cotton value chain. Pakistan can benefit from Chinese seed technology, cultivation practices and research experience, provided these are properly tested under local conditions," he said.

"Xinjiang demonstrates that cotton can be cultivated successfully in arid regions when appropriate seed varieties, efficient water management, mechanisation and institutional support are brought together," he added.

Janjua said efforts were under way to facilitate the transfer of Chinese cotton expertise, but administrative delays within agricultural research institutions have slowed progress. He also attributed the decline in cotton acreage partly to the expansion of sugarcane cultivation, which offers farmers higher and more predictable returns.

Sharing a similar view, Shahid Iqbal, Scientific Officer at the Cotton Research Institute (CRI), Multan, told Wealth Pakistan that he had worked on cotton research in China for around 10 years and is now supporting Punjab government initiatives to improve domestic cotton production.

He said Pakistan was seeking greater collaboration with China in seed development, germplasm exchange, climate-resilient varieties, pest management and modern cultivation technologies.

"China has developed demonstration sites in Xinjiang where cotton yields have reportedly exceeded 125 maunds per acre. These results reflect sustained investment in research, improved genetics, mechanisation and complete crop-management packages," he said.

Iqbal said China possesses a much broader pool of cotton germplasm and valuable genetic traits than Pakistan. Collaboration, he said, could help Pakistan access pest-resistant, heat-tolerant and disease-resistant genetic material capable of improving per-acre yields.

He suggested assessing Balochistan, Cholistan and selected areas of Gilgit-Baltistan through scientific trials to identify additional cotton-growing zones and reduce Pakistan's dependence on its traditional cotton belt.

Iqbal said Pakistan should adopt a complete package of Chinese expertise rather than focusing solely on seed imports. Such cooperation should include research, mechanisation, agronomic practices, farmer training, pest management and post-harvest handling.

He also called for incentives to encourage Pakistani cotton researchers working in China to return home and contribute to the domestic industry.

"Many Pakistani researchers are working on cotton-related projects in China. The government should create opportunities and incentives to bring this expertise back and integrate these professionals into research institutions and the cotton industry," he said.

Iqbal stressed that farmer awareness would also be essential, noting that some Chinese cotton varieties are shorter and slimmer than conventional Pakistani plants, which could lead growers to underestimate their yield potential.

At the policy level, he said Pakistan needed stronger support for cotton growers. China, he noted, provides farmers with subsidies, price support, technical education and greater confidence that their produce will be purchased.

Pakistan should introduce farmer training and exchange programmes with China while providing growers with suitable incentives, extension services and market assurance, he recommended.

Credit: INP-WealthPk