Improving the cotton production to achieve sustainable development goals in Pakistan

Abstract

This study aims to propose the solutions by which the Cotton production of Pakistan can be promoted. A very few researches are available regarding Pakistan’s Cotton production, furthermore country lacks in research and development in agriculture. Cotton sector is facing some major challenges that include low quality of seeds and farmers are deprived to have a genuine information of availability and adaptability of seeds, massive increase in pest attacks on cotton crops, and Government’s support to Sugarcane crop by giving a huge subsidy to Sugarcane growing communities. Sugarcane crop has occupied a large area of land that used to produce Cotton. Decline of Cotton production has largely affected country’s social and economic development, and the role of women in farm practices has been discouraged on a mass level. Pakistan’s Cotton is the only major crop that used to contribute in several other industries, such as oil mills, cosmetic industry, animal feeds, and most importantly in textile industry which exported cotton related products on a very large scale. Promotion of Cotton production in Pakistan helps to achieve sustainable development goals in the country, as well as it is a product that provides an opportunity to achieve a comparative advantage globally. Cotton sector not only helps in economic development by giving employment to millions of people, but also it helps to promote sustainable development by limiting use of natural resources in production process. Pakistan spends around US $1.5 billion on cotton imports that has to be replaced with the imports of sugarcane crop to reduce high price of sugar in country and promote massive Cotton exports to generate enough capital to introduce latest technology within the territory