ANALYSIS: some positive developments improve cotton prices
The much-awaited and widespread rains last week in cotton areas of Sindh and Punjab cotton belts have benefited the cotton crop. Since cotton sowing was not done at one time but at different times due to shortage of irrigation water, the crop throughout the country is at different stages of growth.
August 2004

ANALYSIS: prospects of bumper new crop further depress cotton prices
New cotton season 2004-05 has taken its start from August 1, but previously Pakistan's cotton season used to commence from September 1 every year.
August 2004

Review of agro mismanagement
Agriculture is the backbone of national economy. Its share in gross domestic product (GDP) declined from 53 per cent in 1947 to 23.3 per cent in 2003-04. It engaged 66 per cent of labour force at the time of the inception of the country which has now declined to 44 per cent due to increased employment in industrial ,manufacturing and servicing sectors.
August 2004

Managing soil resources for food security
With world population at around 6 billion, another three billion will be added over next 50 years. This increase will occur in developing countries. Pakistan's population is about 150 million which will double in the next 30-40 years, meaning Pakistan will have to double its cereal production, particularly of wheat, to meet food demand and simultaneously of other crops to stimulate economic growth.
July 2004

ANALYSIS: panicky sellers surrender to cotton buyers
With the completion of sowings in the late sowing areas, cotton sowing in 2004-05 season has come to an end. Cotton harvesting in early sowing areas of Lower Sindh and some areas of central Punjab in Sahiwal, Chichawatni and Mian Chunnu has already commenced.
July 2004

Sugar industry position clarified
Any one aware of ground realities governing Pakistan's sugar industry, at least for the latest past four years at a stretch, will find the contents simply paradoxical, discounting readers' right to get facts, instead of writer's prejudices.
July 2004

Who cares for the small farmer
Poverty alleviation is a hot current subject attracting attention at all levels - national and international. There is no dearth of official pronouncements in this
regard.
July 2004

Mishandling in the wheat sector
At last the government, which has been claiming of having sufficient wheat stocks for the current year (2004-05), despite reservation of independent analysts, has decided to import one million tonnes of the commodity to meet the estimated requirement of the country during the year.
July 2004

ANALYSIS: World cotton and textile prices drift on bumper crop reports
At last the government, which has been claiming of having sufficient wheat stocks for the current year (2004-05), despite reservation of independent analysts, has decided to import one million tonnes of the commodity to meet the estimated requirement of the country during the year.
July 2004

ANALYSIS: cotton prices reeling under intense pressure
Cotton prices fell precipitously and recorded a large fall of Rs200 to Rs300 per maund (37.32kgs) over the past one month or so.
July 2004

Agriculture in focus but professionals missing
Cotton prices in Pakistan plunged sharply during last fortnight and lost anywhere from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per maund (37.32 kgs) with tendency to concede further ground.
July 2004

ANALYSIS: free-fall in cotton prices
Cotton prices in Pakistan plunged sharply during last fortnight and lost anywhere from Rs 100 to Rs 200 per maund (37.32 kgs) with tendency to concede further ground.
June 2004

What ails Punjab's agriculture
In the pre-independence India, the Punjab province served as the food basket for the country. The Punjab province of each country still performs the same function but Pakistan's province is doing it inefficiently in comparison with the other side.
June 2004

ANALYSIS: new crop arrival reports, weak world prices depress cotton market
Harvesting of new cotton crop (2004-05 season) has reportedly commenced in the early sown areas of lower Sindh while sowing is still going on in some areas of upper Sindh and southern Punjab.
June 2004

Food irradiation, Health risks, Misleading consumers, Misuse of the technology
Food irradiation is being promoted by some international bodies and industry groups as the answer to the growing problem of food poisoning, and as a means to combat world hunger by reducing spoilage and extending food shelf life.
June 2004


ANALYSIS: gargantuan growth in cotton economy
Massive investment is continuing in the textile industry, which is moving ahead at galloping speed. According to various reports, another 1.5 million to 2 million state-of-the-art spindles are being installed during the current 12 months which is unprecedented in the history of Pakistan.
June 2004

Farmers' package: all depends on implementation
First came the Economic Survey and then the Budget for the year 2004-5. Policy declarations, speeches and statements of the President of Pakistan , the
Governor of the State Bank and the federal finance minister aimed at providing facilities to and enhancing productivity of the agriculture sector preceded these documents.
June 2004

ANALYSIS: downturn in New York depresses domestic cotton prices
Further free fall in New York cotton futures prices has depressed domestic lint values so that little activity is being reported in the market.
June 2004

ANALYSIS: further fall in cotton prices
Lint prices dipped at least another Rs 50 per maund (37.32kg) this week following the general decrease in New York cotton futures prices since last week and also because mills in Pakistan have booked more imported cotton recently and are thus adequately covered.
June 2004

ANALYSIS: cotton sellers prevail upon buyers for higher price
Cotton planting has almost been completed in Lower Sindh, while it is in progress in Upper Sindh and Punjab. Previously, there was no shortage of canal water, sowing in one area was simultaneously, but now due to shortage of canal waters, cotton growers get water on turn resulting delay in sowing.
June 2004

Climate change boom or bust for biodiversity?
Will climate change trigger mass extinctions or will new life bloom in its wake?

Some of the scientific scenarios are apocalyptic and see a warmer world leading to the most profound changes since the demise of the dinosaurs.
June 2004

Whither is Wheat?
According to a report the government has finally decided to import one million tonnes of wheat. Flip-flop on the part of the government does not reflect well on the quality of decision-making.
May 2004

ANALYSIS: rapid rise in cotton prices
Lint prices have risen by Rs 100 to Rs 200 per maund (37.32kg) during the last week or 10 days denoting a firm price sentiment prevailing in the market.
May 2004

Gwadar people's grievances
Dispelling fears expressed by a section of Gwadar residents, the Balochistan governor and chief minister have done well to reassure the local people that the building of a new port in Gwadar will create better job opportunities and other means of income for them.
May 2004

Farm sector's neglect adding to rural distress
Despite favourable farming conditions, Pakistan until two-three years back was not producing sufficient wheat to meet the domestic requirements. On an average, 2.5 million tons of wheat was imported every year.
May 2004

Wheat crisis continues
The government's recent decision to import one million tonnes of wheat confirms that the crop is short of expectation and that the wheat cisis continues and is severe. Last one year has been dominated by news of an impending wheat crisis.
May 2004

Improving water efficiency in Balochistan
Balochistan is constantly losing its potential and productivity due to extreme arid climate and numerous desertification processes by human and livestock. Over-grazing and woodcutting are resulting in sheet and gully erosion in the range lands.
May 2004

Fertilizer and the future
"There is still a lot of misunderstanding and confusion about mineral fertilizers. The public needs objective, science-based information from all partners involved in nutrient management..."
May 2004

Screening of cotton varieties
Since 1947, distribution of seed was one of the functions of the Agriculture Extension Department. On the recommendation of the FAO, and with the financial and technical assistance from the World Bank , the Pakistan Seed Industry Project was initiated in 1975.
May 2004

The Shifting Terms of Trade Between Grain and Oil
In 1970, a bushel of wheat could be traded for a barrel of oil in the world market. It now takes nine bushels of wheat to buy a barrel of oil. The two countries most affected by the dramatically shifting terms of trade between grain and oil are the United States and Saudi Arabia.
April 2004

Time for farm stakeholders to unite
This is the time of the year when the centre and the provinces begin the annual ritual of consultations on the formation of next year's budget and also annual plans.
April 2004

A deadly weed reservoir of predatory beetle
Generally considered as useless, the weed belongs to the category of the most unwanted plants not only because it can be harmful due to its poisonous substance but also due to the reason that it is often found interferring with the agricultural operations consequently reducing productivity and inflating labour and agriculture cost.
April 2004

Govt wheat procurement favors black marketers
The crises of wheat availability for local consumption is feared at the mid season as the black marketers and profiteers clutches the whole procurement.
April 2004

American bollworm in mango orchards
The American Bollworm, one of the deadly threat to the cash crop cotton has unexpectedly been found in a mango orchard near tehsil Kabirwala which stunned the researchers when they were conducting field survey following the conclusion of mango growers' Farmer Field School at Gardezi Fruit Farmt.
April 2004

Impact of participatory irrigation
Despite the fact that "Participatory Irrigation Management" (PIM) is a new concept for the people of Sindh. It has started delivering concrete results in a short period of about one and half year in the form of increase in the collection of Abiana in the jurisdiction of at least one area water board.
April 2004

Chicken run!
A candid view at the plight of chickens and the role of man in the equation. Bird flu, the deadly epidemic that has infected millions of fowls (specially chickens) across Asia and is inexorably on the rise.
April 2004

Cereal stocks to decline again in 2003/04
But cereal production is forecast to increase in the coming season.Global cereal stocks will fall sharply again by the end of the 2003/2004 season, FAO said today.
April 2004

Mango orchards at stake
A strong threat of lethal disease Quick Decline to the mango orchards has established in South Punjab after elimination of species of Shisham trees while thousands of mango trees were observed last year showing black colored stink liquid at the collar portion of the stem.
April 2004

Agriculture crucial to combat Afghan opium economy
FAO appeals for $60 million in support of farming sector - projects in main poppy producing regions.The fight against opium production in Afghanistan should be based on law enforcement and the rehabilitation of agriculture, FAO said today on the eve of an international donors' conference in Berlin.
March 2004

Rural women at work
Rural women in Pakistan play a significant role in agriculture, with participation rate of about 43 per cent. They are involved in a number of on farm activities- weeding, hoeing, grass cutting, picking , cotton stick collections, besides separation of seeds from fibre and in cotton ginning factories.
March 2004

WTO - role of the provinces
Dr Ishrat Husain, Governor State Bank of Pakistan, has said that if banks do not operate agriculture credit in accordance with the instructions of the SBP, leasing companies would be asked to come forward and take up the task.
March 2004

The wheat flour catastrophe
All the warnings of shortage in wheat, which is staple food of all Pakistanis, were ignored and now the crisis has become a catastrophe. It needs to be highlighted that the catastrophe is not due to any natural calamity like drought or unexpected pest attack or water shortage but it is entirely due to horrible policy blunders.
March 2004

It's 'Chapati' now
The preceding decade saw western seed companies prowling around in the subcontinent, India in particular, to look for an opportunity to grab intellectual property rights of Basmati and Neem.
March 2004

Water vision: 2025
Presently the country is facing serious water crisis due to the increasing population and the declining water resources. Since the construction of the Mangla Dam , the population has risen to 145 million and is estimated to go up to 280 million by the year 2025.
March 2004

GM Technology
Scientific advances in cell and molecular biology have culminated in the genetic engineering or modification of crops. This latest technology allows the routine development of genetically modified (GM) plants in which DNA from any source can be transferred to specific crops.
March 2004

The whole truth about bird flu
It's an early morning in Karachi. As a poultry farmer gets up and goes to his flock, he sees some of the birds gasping. Their heads are swollen, legs thave turned reddish and water is running from their eyes.
March 2004

2003-04 Avian Influenza Out break
An outbreak of avian influenza, more commonly known as bird flu, is affecting bird populations in countries throughout Asia. The outbreak is caused by the H5N1 subtype of influenza A. Human cases also have been reported.
March 2004

Improving Balochistan's agriculture
Balochistan is the largest province with a land mass of 34.7 million hectares comprising 44 per cent of the country's 79.6 million hectares geographic area. Although the largest province, its population is 5 per cent of the total population and nearly 80 per cent of which lives in rural areas.
March 2004

Dismal wheat production scenario
Wheat is the major stapple food crop of Pakistan and occupies nearly
38per cent of the total cultivated area of the country. But during 56
years of the country,s history we imported wheat for 46 years ending
in 2003-04 inspite of having the largest irrigation system in the
world .During 1947 we imported only 0.01million tons of wheat which
increased to to1.3 million tons in 1960 .
March 2004

Wheat import: will the govt come out of hibernation?
Alarm bells had rung about wheat output last year but they were not
on time and rather weak as well. Dawn was possibly the only newspaper
that reported a scuttled produce and predicted that the country would
be resorting to import of wheat to meet domestic consumption needs.
March 2004

Can Safta lead to a South Asian economic union?
By M. Aftab
Can the South Asian Free Trade Agreement lead to an economic union?
By all counts, and indications, such a union is still a distant
dream. But, by signing Safta did the region's top leadership take the
first step towards it? The answer is wide open, as one looks at the
region's multifarious feuds.
March 2004

Recurring onion shortages
Debate over the failure in producing enough wheat to feed the
population by a primarily agricultural country has hardly been ended,
when press reports on onion imports to overcome the existing
shortages, trickled in. The shortage has caused unusual price hike of
this commodity.
March 2004

Agriculture sector needs a new policy
The agriculture sector needs a policy to bring it out of the stagnancy it is facing for the last three years. Further delay would harm all related to this sector. The backbone of the country's economy should not be ignored for too long.
March 2004

Bureaucratic hurdles stop livestock development
 Abdul Qadood 
 
The traditional bureaucratic hurdles have once again stopped work on the Chief Minister's Livestock Development Plan in NWFP depriving the province of huge foreign investment.
February 2004

Textile mills likely to face hit on profits
 Farhan Sharif
 
High cotton prices in the domestic market could have a negative impact on the profitability of the textile sector units and industry officials foresee that unit with 15,000 spindles might they see their profits shrinking by Rs 30 million.
February 2004