Pakistan's Agriculture, Cotton & Textiles - News and Updates

[Hyde]

photo taken by myself..
Tesco UK selling Pakistani basmati at 9 Pounds per 10 KG

Thanks, That's a news to me

In London they don't sell Pakistani rice or I haven't seen it anywhere... or may be the packing in London is different that I don't realize its a Pakistani basmati rice

 

[Safriz]

Thanks, That's a news to me

In London they don't sell Pakistani rice or I haven't seen it anywhere... or may be the packing in London is different that I don't realize its a Pakistani basmati rice

then stop going to M&S..they dont sell Pakistani products...I always use Pakistani rice...The Quality of Pakistani Rice sold here is way better than what is sold in Pakistan.

 

[A1Kaid]

Pakistan starts to speed up wheat sales

By: Reuters | July 24, 2012 |




HAMBURG - About 40,000 tonnes of Pakistani wheat has been sold in the last two weeks to buyers in countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and East Africa, traders said on Monday.

The deals show Pakistan is starting to speed up wheat sales following a slow start to its export season which starts around late May. Prices ranged between $292 and $312 a tonne fob, traders said.

The wheat was largely for shipment in containers although there was also unconfirmed market talk a European trading house had booked a 45,000-tonne shipment using a bulk carrier, traders said.

Pakistani export wheat prices rose to $312 a tonne fob late last week from $295 previously as international markets rose on concern about the drought in the U.S. Midwest and export demand was strong, traders said.

Export wheat prices had fallen to $307-$308 a tonne fob Pakistani ports on Monday for breakbulk (containerised) cargo with pressure coming from cheaper supplies from India, traders said.

“Pakistan’s wheat exports have been slow to start this year as internal demand from flour mills is strong,” another European trader said. “The latest sales bring the total so far this season from late May to about 115,000 tonnes.”

Last year Pakistan sold nearly 1.8 million tonnes between May and June before rising competition from Black Sea region harvests cut shipments. Traders did not believe that Pakistan had made significant private-sector wheat sales to neighbouring Iran, which has been seeking more grain supplies in the face of western sanctions.

The problem with the Iranian business is the fungal disease karnal bunt present in Pakistani wheat which Iran wishes to prevent spreading to its country, traders said.

The karnal bunt question and disagreement about price continues to hamper progress in talks about an inter-governmental barter deal under which Iran would import 1 million tonnes of Pakistani wheat.

Source: Pakistan starts to speed up wheat sales | The Nation

Pakistan loses Iran’s mango market


By Our Correspondent
Published: June 19, 2012

MARKET LOST: $10m is the worth of mango which could not be exported to Iran this year.

KARACHI: Pakistani fruit exporters have lost a lucrative market in neighbouring Iran, where at least 30,000 tons of mango were exported previously, as a result of the trade embargo imposed by the United Nations on Tehran.

With the loss of this market, the exporters could not export around $10 million worth of mango during the current season, said Waheed Ahmed, Co-chairman of Pakistan Fruit and Vegetable Exporters, Importers and Merchants Association in a statement on Monday.

Keeping in view the serious implications for Pakistani exports, the association has written a letter to the Ministry of Commerce, asking it to use diplomatic channels to resolve the issue.

Ahmed said though the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had clarified its stance on the UN sanctions, the commercial banks were reluctant to show any flexibility in opening letters of credit and issuing E Form.

Commercial banks were reluctant to issue E Form to exporters because of UN sanctions on Iran, effectively prohibiting export of mango, he said, adding this would lead to a sharp reduction in overall mango exports.

Mango exports have already slowed down as only 40,000 tons could be exported so far to world markets. Besides Iran, “no shipments could be made to other potential markets of Japan and United States so far,” he said.

According to Ahmed, kinnow, another important fruit enjoying a considerable share in the country’s fruit exports, has also faced almost the same fate in Iran where only 6,000 tons were exported this year against average shipments of around 60,000 tons in previous years.

Besides the UN embargo, Iranian restrictions on imports to protect its local products have also hurt exports from Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19th, 2012.

Source: Pakistan loses Iran

 

[SamranAli]

barter trade solution?

 

[SHAMK9]

Cotton production reaches 1.73m bales
ISLAMABAD: Total seed cotton (phutti) received in cotton ginning factories from this year’s cotton crop has reached an equivalent of 1.75 million cotton bales as of August 31, 2012, according to the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA).
According to the latest domestic production figures, released by PCGA, arrivals of seed cotton (phutti) in all cotton ginning factories of the country have totalled enough to produce 1,731,245 bales of cotton. An equivalent of 967,654 cotton bales has been received in ginning factories in Punjab, and an equivalent of 763,591 cotton bales in ginning factories in Sindh.
According to the PCGA report, textile mills have purchased 1,507,767 cotton bales from ginning factories up to August 31, 2012; while an additional 2,000 cotton bales have been exported. The report further reveals that 221,478 cotton bales are still lying unsold as of August 31. Among these 47,347 are pressed bales, whereas 174, 121 bales are in the form of un-ginned phutti held in stock in ginning factories.
According to the report, 286 ginning factories in Punjab and 154 ginning factories in Sindh are currently in operation. Ihsan-ul-Haq, executive member of the PCGA, has said that this is the first time the first report on final figures of country-wide cotton production has been issued on August 31; a month ahead of the routine date of September 30.
He said that this year, due to early sowing (during February-March) in most areas of Punjab and Sindh, arrivals of the new cotton crop – as well as cotton ginning – also began earlier in the second week of June. This enabled the compilation of a comprehensive report on production figures before time; meanwhile, he added, the report will be updated fortnightly up to April 30, 2013.
He added that if registration of cotton export agreements had been initiated earlier, a greater volume of cotton export could have been made possible in the last two months.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 4th, 2012.

Pakistan, US scientists work together to combat cotton disease
ISLAMABAD: Five American scientists travelled to Pakistan to help Pakistani scientists and farmers combat cotton disease, which has infected cotton throughout country’s cotton belt and can substantially reduce yields and incomes for farmers.

American and Pakistani scientists, in coordination with Pakistan’s Ministry of Textiles and Industry and the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), launched a workshop to develop solutions to the Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) problem in Pakistan. This workshop is part of the U.S. government sponsored Cotton Productivity Enhancement Program.

In his remarks, Todd Drennan, U.S. Agricultural Counsellor, said “Agriculture touches so many lives in Pakistan and is a vital part of Pakistan’s economy. The United States wants to help enhance the productivity of Pakistan’s agricultural sector, especially small farmers. This cooperation between U.S. and Pakistani scientists on cotton is an example of that commitment.”

The workshop completes a ten day visit by the American technical team. The team met Pakistani cotton scientists to discuss the results of research on CLCV. The team also visited cotton breeding trials in Faisalabad and Multan. As a result of these trials, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the team reported good news that some new varieties of cotton are showing preliminary signs of resistance to CLCV.

Small farmers are especially vulnerable to the economic impacts caused by this disease.
Because of this, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designed the cotton disease research project to help Pakistani farmers. American agricultural scientists continually visit Pakistan to collaborate on research to combat disease affecting Pakistan’s principal crops, especially cotton and wheat.


Copyright PPI (Pakistan Press International), 2012

 

[PiyaraPakistan]

Why We are not producing Canola domestically, Pakistan is spending 2.4 Billion dollar annually on the import of Food grade oil. servay shows that by investing 8 to 9 billion Pak Rupees by providing the canola seeds to farmers we can save the 2.3 Billion US dollars easily. It is an easy step for self reliance. Pakistan Gov knows it very well then Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?

Why We are not producing Canola domestically, Pakistan is spending 2.4 Billion dollar annually on the import of Food grade oil. servay shows that by investing 8 to 9 billion Pak Rupees by providing the canola seeds to farmers we can save the 2.3 Billion US dollars easily. It is an easy step for self reliance. Pakistan Gov knows it very well then Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?

 

[A.Rafay]

President sees textile sector export up to $100 billion

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has visualised a potential of $100 billion exports for textile industry against the industry target of $20 billion and termed it 'a vital industry from all measures'.

Addressing a gathering of textile industry on the occasion of annual dinner of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), he said the textiles and clothing sector was the mainstay of Pakistan's exports and was a symbol of Pakistan's manufacturing excellence.

Zardari said a regionally competitive interest rate has become need of the hour and the Ministry of Finance, State Bank of Pakistan and APTMA should jointly formulate appropriate measures towards achieving the industry sustainability and growth in the larger interest of exports and employment.

He appreciated the businessmen for performing at their best despite high cost of doing business in Pakistan due to war against terrorism and related issues.

Chairman APTMA Mohsin Aziz said the textile was contributing more than 53 percent of the total export of the country besides 8.5 percent to the GDP and employing, directly and indirectly 15 million workers.

He appreciated the federal government for accepting APTMA's proposals and responding positively by entrusting APTMA with a pivotal role in the functioning of the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC).

Mohsin said APTMA has willingly and readily accepted the increase in the cotton cess whereby its contribution to cotton research would increase from Rs 200 to Rs 600 million. He appreciated the President for ensuring energy supply to textile industry, enduring production capacity closure, diminished exports and falling employment due to 180 days gas supply suspension and excessive electric shut down even on independent feeders.

Exports suffered on account of industry 30 percent impairment of capacity due to these unprecedented setbacks, he added.

He requested the textile industry be given top priority in supply of gas and electricity, second to the direct consumers.

President sees textile sector export up to $100 billion Pakistan Business

 

[Safriz]

Rs 382M olive cultivation, production plan Pakistan Business

 

[A.Rafay]

Malaysian Chamber sees vast investment potential in Pak textile, halal sectors

ISLAMABAD - Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) has urged Malaysian entrepreneurs and businessmen to explore what it sees as “vast investment opportunities” in the surgical instruments, textile and leather sectors in Pakistan.
“The chamber foresees a huge investment potential in Pakistan for Malaysian entrepreneurs to be explored in some sectors such as textiles, surgical instruments and halal leather goods,” said DPMM Deputy President Datuk Mohamad Alayuddin Hasan in an interview with mass-circulated Malaysian newspaper Berita Harian after his return from Karachi where he attended the Expo Pakistan 2012 as part of a 57-member Malaysian delegation of businessmen and entrepreneurs.
Datuk Mohamad Alayuddin said Pakistani textile products seemed like a very relevant item to be brought into the Malaysian market as they were of high quality and offered at a much lower price as compared to other textile-producing countries.
“It's not just limited to one type of textile, but it also includes all other products including those for home use, hotel use and can also be bought in bulk," he said.
He suggested that Malaysian entrepreneurs take this opportunity to become agents for the sale of surgical instruments manufactured in Pakistan. “The manufactured equipment are of first-class quality and are comparable to German products,” he said, adding Pakistani companies had also agreed to establish a consortium which would soon appoint representatives in Malaysia to supply surgical instruments manufactured in Pakistan to the rest of Southeast Asia.
He said the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia welcomed the selection of Malaysia as a hub for the surgical goods from Pakistan to be exported further eastward and the Chamber was looking forward to assisting and managing the related entrepreneurs in Malaysia.
To a question, Datuk Mohamad Alayuddin said the Pakistani leather goods industry also had good prospects to be brought into Malaysia as it was a value-added product and in terms of price, it was very cheap and of high quality but attention should be paid to the final outcome of each product.
"However it does not matter because we in Malaysia have different types of technology that is able to produce products that appeals to buyers," he said.
He also added that Pakistan was also using the same approach as Malaysia that was investor-friendly and aggressive marketing in promoting its products to the international market.

Malaysian Chamber sees vast investment potential in Pak textile, halal sectors | Pakistan Today | Latest news | Breaking news | Pakistan News | World news | Business | Sport and Multimedia

 

[A.Rafay]

Punjab wheat production target of 19.2m T proposed

ISLAMABAD: Production target of 19.2 million tonnes of wheat has been proposed by Punjab Agriculture Department during Rabi 2012-13 for which an area of 16.80 million acres will be brought under wheat cultivation. In a statement, the handout said to achieve the target. An area of 1.183 million acres has been proposed to be brought under wheat cultivation in Rawalpindi Division. According to the experts, ideal sowing time for wheat crop in barani area is October 15 to November 15. Five high-yielding wheat varieties for barani areas including Chakwal-50, GA-2002, NARC-2009, Baris-2009 and Dhehrabi-2011 have been recommended by the agriculture department. Farmers have been further advised to use seed rate of 50 kilogrammes per acre for sowing of wheat in these areas.

 

[A.Rafay]

EU Preference Scheme: Pakistan to make 31.4pc net gain in textile export

RECORDER REPORT
FAISALABAD: Pakistan will make a net gain of 31.4 percent in export of textiles under the EU Autonomous Preference Scheme. Value of exports for 2011 was US$ 1709 million and under the EU Preference Scheme, the exports are estimated to rise to US$ 2246 million yielding in net increase of 537 million.

This was revealed by Mujeeb Ahmad Khan, Head WTO Cell TDAP, during a talk with members of the FCCI here on Wednesday. He said that under the EU Preference Scheme, 26 items are under tariff regulated quotas (TRQ) while 49 items were admissible under Non-Tariff Regulated Quota for export to EU.

He further stated that in total 75 items are at HS Code 8 digit level have been granted duty free market access out of which 26 items are under quantity based tariff rate quota while 49 items are under a 25 percent quantity increase limit base on average of last three years export. He gave details of comparative statement of various items for EU exports which were entitled to these concessionary rates.

Mujeeb informed the members that under quota management EC Regulation No.2454/93 for the remaining two months of year 2012, only 25 percent of the annual quota would be availed for duty free access from first Nov, 2012. Giving details of the procedural regulation, he said EU importers will apply to the custom authorities of the relevant EU member state to avail the benefit of tariff rate quota (TRQ) on first come first served basis. These requests by EU importers, he said, for TRQ will be entertained with reference to the date on which custom declaration is accepted by the authorities of the concerned EU member states.

Regarding quota management regulation he informed the members of the Chamber that EU importers and all interested parties will itself be able to monitor the state of quota utilization at any given time on the EC Directorate General of Taxation and Custom Union (TAXUD website). Furthermore, as and when 90 percent of the total quota quantity is used up, its status will be considered critical and an alert will be posted on the website against that particular tariff line. Based on this alert, member states may demand a guarantee for the relevant duty from the EU importer.

About quota management, he said that the quota management will be done by European Commission. The basic role of Pakistani authorities related to the issuance of Certificate of Origin confirming that the exported products are of Pakistani origin so that they can quality for the ATP concessions.

Earlier Mian Zahid Aslam, President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) welcome the guests arrived and said that EU Preference Scheme was highly important for the business community and exporters of Faisalabad particularly at a time when exports in general and of textiles in particular to EU are dwindling.

 

[A.Rafay]

PAKISTAN: Textile and clothing exports up 3% in Q1

Pakistan's textile and clothing exports increased by 3% to US$3.27bn during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, thanks to higher demand from Europe and the United States.

According to data released by the Pakistan's Federal Bureau of Statistics, exports of woven ready-made garments went up by 10% to $448m in the three months from July through September. The fiscal year 2013 runs from July 2012 to June 2013.

Exports of cotton yarn surged by 39% to $531m, and cotton fabrics grew by 5% to $670m. Exports of knitted garments, however, dropped by 10% to $555m during the period.

Footwear exports fell 10% to US$25m, against $27m last year. The drop was led by a 61% fall in exports of canvas footwear and a decline of 12% in leather footwear.

A spokesperson from the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) told just-style that a waiver in EU import duties and improved domestic energy supplies have been supporting the growth in shipments.

Ejaz Khokhar, former chairman of the Readymade Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PRGMEA), added that clothing makers in Pakistan anticipate the EU's GSP+ facility in 2014 could boost textile and clothing exports by $1bn in one year.

 

[Edevelop]

This news is a couple of weeks old, but i think its enlightening:

'Balochistan agriculture sector experienced 23% growth'

FAISALABAD: As a result of water management trainings, Balochistan’s agriculture sector experienced 23% growth during last one year, said the vice chancellor of Faisalabad University of Agriculture on Monday.
“Balochistan would become a new food basket not only for Pakistan but for the central Asian countries as improvement in the agriculture sector including agro ecological zones and conducive environment enable farmers to invest in fruit and vegetable crops, ” Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said.
The university head was speaking to 30 participants from Balochistan who were here for a 10-day training workshop on farm water management.
The training was conducted by the Balochistan Agricultural project, funded by the USAID and implemented by the FAO in eight districts of Balochistan.
Khan highlighted that sugarcane and rice cultivation – which takes up the majority of the cultivatable land – requires huge amount of water and exporting these crops means virtual water export. He further called for measures to regulate commercial use of water.
The vice chancellor stressed the need of overhauling the current farming system keeping in mind the recent climate change.
He warned that in coming years, the country will suffer a shortfall of 110 million acre feet of water, which will hamper the agricultural growth.

‘Balochistan agriculture sector experienced 23% growth’ – The Express Tribune

 

[Safriz]

Pakistan’s grim agri sector Khawaja Umer Farooq 1 Pakistan observed World food day just days ago. Recent report of UN food and agriculture department presents grim picture of Pakistan agriculture sector. According to report forty eight countries are worst affected from food shortage these days Pakistan ranked 16th. Agriculture is a key sector of Pakistan economy but last three years performance of this sector has declined sharply which caused further harm to country’s already weak economy. Now It seems true that like other fields of life agriculture sector is also passing through worse stage of its history and big portion of population who are attached with agricultures find it hard to survive. A country with its 70 percent population attached with agriculture sector and have world largest irrigation system, very large fertile land is facing this type of disaster. Although government blames recent floods and worse peace situation in North west frontier province for recent worse performance of agriculture sector but people believe that several other factors are working behind this disaster. Raising price of fuel and fertilizer, worse energy crises, lack of water and government’s lack of interest are main causes of this disaster. Now government is planning to import sugar and other commodities from other countries which is very unfortunate. Worse performance of agriculture sector is also affecting country’s exports and industrial sector. Prices of raw material is becoming high and due to raising prices industrial sector finds it hard to compete with other countries. Despite growing problem government economic team is still not able to face realties and prepare policies according to situation.

 

[SHAMK9]

Australia-Pakistan agri research group meeting
FAISALABAD: Australian and Pakistani scientists are striving to boost productivity of mango, citrus and dairy.

This was stated by Dr John Spriggs, a professor of Australian Institute for Sustainable Communities, University of Canberra, while addressing participants of Australia-Pakistan Agriculture Sector Linkages Program (ASLP II) research group meeting at Syndicate Hall of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) here on Friday.

He said horticultural and dairy sectors of Pakistan had great productivity potential, which was not being exploited as per capacity. He emphasized scientists to device farmers friendly solutions and packages.

He maintained that ASLP-II project would provide guidelines towards destination of prosperity and rural development. He was of the view that the three-year duration project had been initiated under developed areas of Sindh and Punjab.

Earlier, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said many joint research projects were being undertaken with collaboration of various educational and research institutions of developed nations of the world.

Prof Dr Sandra Heaney Mustafa told participants that base line survey had been finalized and further planning was underway on the basis of generated data. She said workshops would be conducted in rural areas of both province during January 2013.

Prof Dr Amaan Malik, Dr Izhar Ahmad Khan, Dr Babar Shahbaz from UAF, Nadeem Akbar, Hasnain Shah and Tabinda Qaisar from National Agricultural Research Council and others attended the meeting.
Australia-Pakistan agri research group meeting

6.8mn cotton bales reach ginneries
MULTAN: Over 6.8 million bales of cotton reached ginneries across Pakistan by Oct 31, showing a 2.20 per cent increase, says a fortnightly report by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association on Saturday.

According to the report, cotton arrival was recorded at 6,851,056 bales and of them 6,179,079 were ginned. Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) has not yat started the purchase of ginned cotton.

The report said that exporters had bought 126,068 bales and Textile millers have bought 52,32,807 bales till Oct 31.

The stock of unsold bales was recorded at over 1,492,181 bales, says the report.
http://www.brecorder.com/pakistan/business-a-economy/88811-68mn-cotton-bales-reach-ginneries.html