Cotton production by 7 pc, sugar by 17 pc feared to fall

KARACHI: Cotton production in upcoming crops is likely to fall short by 7 percent from the target, while sugar output by 17 percent.

According to federal ministry for production and agriculture, the government is expecting countrywide cotton production from the next crop at 15 million bales, but in view of different virus, it is likely to fall short and remain at 14 million bales as against past season’s 12.8 million bales.

On the other hand, sugarcane production also in the next season likely to remain 48 million tons, which would be 8 percent less as compared to the previous year’s sugarcane production of 52 million tons, and record 64 million tons in fiscal year 2007-08.

The ministry said that sugar output is likely to fall to 3 million tons due to decline in sugarcane production, while the country’s total annual requirement of sugar stood in the range of 3.2 million to 3.5 million tons and per capita annual consumption of sugar amounts to 25 kilo.
source: thenews.jang.com.pk