Market Watch

Farmers still waiting for govt to purchase cotton

LAHORE - Around two million bales of cotton are still lying with farmers and ginners in Punjab, while Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) stopped its purchasing campaign without completing target. Detail

Wheat sown over 8.8 lakh acres in RY Khan

RAHIM YAR KHAN-Wheat has been sown over an area of 8 lakh 8 thousand acres in district Rahim Yar Khan, which is seven percent more as compared to last year.This was told in a meeting of district Agri Advisory committee held here with DCO Atta Muhammad Khan in the chair here on Jan 25, 2002. Detail

Export of kinnoo restarts

KARACHI: The export of kinnoo has restarted to Far Eastern countries after a break of ten days and about 800 containers have been shipped so far to these destinations. Detail

No let-up in cotton buying spree

KARACHI: The buying spree continued unabated on the cotton market on Thursday. Both the spinners and exporters lifted the available lots at low prices'.
Detail 

Impurities in cotton lowered to five grams

LAHORE, : The joint government-Aptma programme to reduce cotton contamination through a supervised ginning project is said to have brought down the level of impurities in cotton to an average five grams a bale of 170kg from 20 grams in four districts of the province. Detail

Sugar prices fall

KARACHI, Jan 23: The unsold stocks of white refined sugar with sugar mills have risen to 0.459 million tons as the lifting, both from commercial traders and general wholesalers, is not in consonance with the rising production.  Detail

Spinners continue to build up long position

KARACHI: Cotton market passed through another brisk trading session on Wednesday as spinners continued to build up long positions at the current levels amid fears of price flare-up.  Detail

Cotton market lacks buying interest

KARACHI, Jan 14: Trading on the cotton market on Monday lacked normal buying interest as spinners kept to the sidelines most of the time, awaiting some positive developments on the export front. Detail

Release of transgenic cotton varieties soon after biosafety laws

LAHORE- The bio-technology research institutes of the country will release the genetically modified varieties of cotton and other crops for cultivation soon after the enactment of the bio-safety guidelines and Plant Breeders Act.

" The inordinate delay in the approval of bio-safety guidelines and the enactment of plant breeders act is depriving the Pakistani growers of the benefits of the bio-technology."

This was stated by Dr. Kausar Abdullah Malik, member (Biosciences) Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) here on January 9, 2002.Dr. Malik said that the biotechnology research institutes like NIBGE and Centre of Excellence for Molecular Biology (CEMB) had so far produced 100-150 kilogram seed of high yielding and pest resistant genetically modified cotton varieties like NIAB, Karishma and added that the seed could be multiplied after the  promulgation of new laws.

" Presently, pest resistant genes have been introduced into only three cotton varieties; we are planning to genetically modify another three varieties in near future," he said.

Criticising certain non-governmental organizations for their opposition to the plant breeders rights laws, he said that these  bodies with non-scientific mindset were raising hue and cry just  out of their vested interests.

Active buying on cotton market

KARACHI, Jan 10: Cotton market on Thursday showed an improved trend as spinners remained active buyers of quality lots offered by ginners below Rs1,800 per maund. Detail

Iraq may allow private sector to handle shipment: Wheat exports

KARACHI, Jan 9: Iraq has agreed to give due consideration to Pakistan's request to allow private sector for handling wheat exports, being purchased under phase 11 of the UN programme 'oil-for-food', official sources said.  Detail

Cotton to be sown at 3.125m hectares

KARACHI (APP)–The Cotton Crop Assessment Committee met here at the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee under the chairmanship of M. Shafi Niaz, Advisor to the Chief Executive on Food and Agriculture. Detail

Cotton easy amid thin trading

KARACHI: The cotton market remained bearishly inclined on Wednesday due to the absence of buying interest. The spinners took a breather after Tuesday's hectic buying. Detail

'Increase in cotton cultivation areas needed'

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Food and Agriculture Khair Muhammad Junejo has said cotton cultivation area requires substantial increase to cope with growing problem of water shortage.

Talking to APP here, he said emphasis is being laid on enhancement of cotton cultivation in the areas facing problem of water shortage. He said cotton requires less water as compared to some other crops and it is vital to create awareness among the farmers in this connection.

Junejo said a survey of different areas has been conducted by the government to analyse the situation which revealed that soil and climatic conditions of certain areas were favourable for cotton growing.

Agriculture Minister said certain areas of Kashmore and Jacobabad in Sindh and Put-feeder in Balochistan are found to be more suitable for cotton crop. The cotton produce of these areas proved to be superior as compared to the existing production of the other areas of the country. Presently paddy crop is being cultivated in these areas which require much water for the growth, he added.

Khair Muhammad Junejo said agriculture department is working out a strategy to effectively meet the challenges of the prevailing situation by disseminating knowledge about cultivation of less water consuming crops.

Cotton crop size estimated at 10.4m bales

KARACHI, Jan 8: Cotton crop size this season has been assessed at 10.4 million bales ex-farm by the Cotton Crop Assessment Committee (CCAC) of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC). Detail

TCP announces new procurement rates for cotton

KARACHI-Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has fixed new rates for the procurement rates for grade box II contamination free or low contamination cotton from Rahimyar Khan district.

According to TCP here on Dec 31, 2001, the Corporation will buy Grade
Box II cotton with staple length 1-1/16" at Rs 2,037 per 40 kilograms while Rs 1,901 per maund (37.32 kgs) till December 26, 2001.

The cotton should have a moisture content of 8 percent, micronaire 3.8 to 4.9 NCL and trash content of 4.7 percent while the cotton should be packed in TCP's standard export packing.

The TCP will pay an additional premium of Rs 200 per maund on the purchase of zero-contamination cotton, and Rs 75 per maund on low contamination from 0.5 to 2.5 grams in a bale. So far TCP has procured 1,200 bales of contamination free or low contamination cotton from registered ginning factories of Rahimyar Khan district.

Iranian delegation arriving to hold talks on export of rice

KARACHI-An Iranian delegation will arrive in Pakistan on January 7 to negotiate the purchase of rice, exporters said here on Dec 31, 2001. They said that the delegation from Government Trading Corporation (GTC) of Iran will meet rice exporters during their stay in Pakistan and visit Lahore and Karachi.

The GTC Iran is interested in the purchase IRRI-9 and Basmati 385 from Pakistan. In this regard a group of leading rice exporters will be formed for the supply of rice. Those exporters will be preferred who had earlier supplied rice to Iran. It may be noted that Pakistani rice exporters had supplied 15,000 metric tons of IRRI-9 rice to Iran in September 2000.

Private cos to be allowed to buy seeds

ISLAMABAD-Pakistan has agreed to Asian Development Bank (ADB)'s demand of extending all the private seed companies of the country "unrestricted access" to breeders enabling them to obtain newly developed seeds / varieties from government research institutes to produce them on commercial basis, The News reliably learnt.Detail

Rice output faces shortfall

ISLAMABAD-The rice exports during the current fiscal year may suffer due to shortfall in rice production against the last fiscal year.

According to estimates of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the rice production faces shortfall by one million tonnes during the current fiscal year due to water shortage. In its latest estimates the Ministry of Food and Agricultural has observed one million tons shortfall in the production of rice this year because of water shortage.

When contacted Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Khair Muhammad Junejo said rice production had been estimated at 3.8 million tons this year as compared to 4.8 million tons last year.

But he did not agree with the notion that less production may hamper the rice export operation during the current fiscal year, saying the production of Irri has decreased but basmati production has increased, which is mainly exported.

When asked whether the water shortage has played any role in decreasing the production of paddy crop throughout the country, he said: "Yes, water shortage was one of the reasons, but we have encouraged the farmers to grow basmati instead of Irri and cotton." However, the commerce ministry was expecting above $500 million worth of rice exports this year, but shortfall in rice output may drag its exports below $500 million.

Coutesy The News, December 29, 2001

Govt worries about wheat sales to WFP

KARACHI-Government's hopes to supply 300,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan are fading after a US wheat donation to feed Afghans driven from their homes by war and drought, a senior official said on Friday. Detail

Iran to procure 45,000 tonnes Pak rice after Ramazan

ISLAMABAD-Iran has agreed to procure 45,000 tonnes of rice from Pakistan.
This was disclosed by the visiting Iranian Minister for Agriculture and Plant Protection in a meeting which was chaired by Abdul Razak Dawood, Federal Minister for Commerce, Industries and Production, here today.Detail

10.4 milliion bales cotton production

KARACHI-Cotton production this year in Pakistan would possibly be around 10.4 million bales one x-farm basis (Punjab 8.2 million, Sindh 2.1 million and Baluchistan 0.1 million) .This was announced by Cotton crop Assessment Committee at a meeting in Karachi on Dec 22, 2001, chaired by Adviser to Chief Executive on Food and Agriculture Dr. Shafi Niaz after taking into account past years experience and available observation and field data. Detail

Pakistan to achieve agri targets: Junejo

ISLAMABAD-Minister for Food and Agriculture Khair Muhammad Junejo said Pakistan will achieve its production targets in agriculture this year despite shortage of water.

In an interview to BBC Radio on Dec 27, 2001, Junejo said production targets of wheat, cotton, sugarcane and edible oil will be achieved. He said we are cultivating wheat on five percent additional area this year and it is hoped that we will cross the production target of last year.

Cotton production was 10.7 million tons. We will produce more edible oil and sugarcane production will also be much better as compared to last year, Junejo said.

He said Pakistan will not import sugar this year because we are expecting the sugar production of six million tons against domestic demand of three million tons.

To a question about shortage of water in Sindh, the Minister said underground water in Sindh is contaminated as compared to Punjab where underground water is sweet.