ChangingCottonLandscapeNeilForrester

Preface
The importance of improving cotton production for cotton growers, the textile industry and other
members of the cotton value chain in Pakistan can hardly be overstated. Considering its role in
the national economy, it is surprising how little the public and the private sector in Pakistan has
invested in cotton research and development (R&D) during the last few decades. The public
sector’s large infrastructure of research institutes and agricultural universities suffers from the
endemic problems of lack of resources and poor management. It has been unable to keep pace
with the latest discoveries in production and crop management. Consequently, Pakistan’s per
acre yield continues to remain below the world average. It grows cotton on 3.2 million hectares,
yet the total production has fluctuated around a meager 12 million (170 kg) bales during the last
decade, leaving a shortfall of 2-3 million in domestic consumption every year. This places a
heavy burden on cotton growers and the textile industry – the two most important members in
the value chain – to come forward and fill this gap in cotton R&D.
This research is one small contribution towards this objective. Dr. Neil Forrester is a leading
international expert on cotton production, who has kept himself abreast of the latest
developments in cotton biotechnology and other innovations. His familiarity with Pakistani cotton
landscape enabled him to produce a valuable report within the short time period of two weeks.
This research serves two important functions. First, it helps cotton farmers to better understand
the disease and pest complex they face each year. Second, it constitutes the starting point for
further in-depth research on the constraints identified in this report.
Hopefully, other progressive growers and the textile industry will take this work from here and
invest in rigorous and scientific investigation of the problems that have so far condemned
Pakistan farmers to a below average performance.
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Jehangir Khan Tareen