HYDERABAD (March 22 2004): The seed cotton arrival in Sindh ginneries continue to flag 8 percent decline as compared to the corresponding period last year, but the monitoring cell was optimistic that cotton production losses would be further trimmed when the final survey of the cotton crop would be over.

According to statistics released by the agriculture department, the arrival of seed cotton by the end of last month was estimated at196, 668 bales as compared to 2,312,695 bales last year, but the monitoring report also indicates that in some part of the province the cotton crop has been extended and there are also crop pending with ginneries.

The spinners till last month have lifted 1,537,986 bales while the exporters 64,449 bales. The bales pending with ginneries are around 328,632 bales, approximately 15 percent more than the corresponding period last year.

The sources at monitoring cell told Business Recorder that the difference in cotton production and arrivals between monitoring cell and PCGA was due to the fact that Sindh bales are of 170.09-kg, while PCGA bales weigh around 165-kg on average.

The export of seed cotton to Punjab was recorded at 39,125 bales as compared to 79,639 bales last year but last year a swindling case of Rs 4.5 million was also detected, which indicated that the quantity was much higher than it was reported.

The enquiry of the case was assigned to an officer who himself was undergoing an anti-corruption enquiry at that time of Rs 2.2 million.

Sources associated with cotton trade, in view to the report of PCGA have refused to rule out elements of corruption and misappropriation in seed cotton transportation fee being charged by the Sindh Agriculture Department at the rate of Rs 4 per 40-kg.

Courtesy Business Recorder