In 1996/97, Pakistan is expected to maintain its status as one of the major world suppliers of raw cotton. As of late September, cotton production for 1996/97 was estimated at 8.2 million bales, up 0.1 million or 1% from last season's crop. This follows a production increase of 30% in 1995/96. Farmers in the cotton-growing provinces of Punjab and Sindh have planted cotton on an estimated area of 3 million hectares. In the Sindh providence, farmers shifted about 2% of the cotton area to sugarcane andrice crops. A marginal shift from cotton to sugarcane was also reported in pockets of the Punjab province.
展开▼
