Cotton, the provider of most of the natural fibre to the global community, is under severe challenges. In a few leading countries either the production is static or it is declining as it is in Pakistan, Iran and even in some African countries. The biggest challenge is from the cheaper, stronger and more stable supply of high-quality synthetic fibres due to declining prices of fossil fuel. The global investment in renewable energy alternatives, emphasis on electric/hybrid vehicles and the glut of petroleum— combined with lower demand — resulted in historically low prices of petroleum products which are the feed stock of synthetic fibre. Moreover, immense technological advances resulted in the availability of varied types of improved synthetic fibres such as nano-fibres, with increasing utilities in the garment industry. The second biggest challenge relates to climate change. Though this has impacted all crops, cotton crop — being of longer duration and more prone to multiple diseases— is at higher risk and more vulnerable to total crop failure or lower productivity. The low R&D public sector investment by developing countries has resulted in a slower pace of the development of SMART cotton. The third major challenge relates to higher risk and lower profitability of cotton farmers especially in developing countries. The input cost of fertilisers, pesticides and machinery are on the rise while productivity is generally on a downward trajectory. The static or poor genetics of seed, high labour-intensive tasks during crop management and volatility in the price of raw cotton has resulted inshrinkage of area under cotton crop. In Pakistan there is 35% decline in area under cotton in 2019 and production is 45% less than what was in 2014. This is alarming despite the fact that >60% is exported to earn foreign currency. The major reason in developing countries is low investment by the public sector which made cotton a less attractive crop.
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