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

[A.Rafay]

Sindh suffers over Rs500bn agricultural losses in 3 years

KARACHI: Sindh has suffered losses of more than Rs500 billion during the last three years, as floods and rains have devastated the crops and properties in the province, said an official on Tuesday.

Syed Mehmood Nawaz Shah, general secretary of Sindh Abadgar Board, said that the agriculture sector had suffered from two angles, one was natural disaster and the other was low prices.

Official estimates say that the province suffered loss to crops, animals and other properties of Rs240 billion in 2010 floods. Rains of 2011 damaged crops and properties of around Rs200 billion, while the current year’s loss is around Rs80 billion, he said. Besides natural disasters, prices of cotton and paddy this year were low, which also affected the growers’ income, said Shah.

Trade with India is also hampering Sindh agriculture as the country imported onions, tomatoes, bananas and mango from India, while it did not export any agricultural commodity. “Punjab markets are full with the Indian bananas,” he said.

Haji Shahjahan, president of Falahi Anjuman Wholesale Vegetable Market, said that the government is importing tomatoes and green chillies from India, which were abundant in Sindh. “The government’s action shows that it is suppressing growers here,” he said. Earlier, onions were also imported.

Shahjahan suggested that all such agricultural products that were available in the country should not be imported from India, as it hurts the growers. “A no objection certificate (NOC) on tomatoes and green chillies import should be cancelled,” he said.

Besides vegetables, major Kharif crops, cotton and paddy, have also suffered huge damages in Sindh and Balochistan, he said. Sindh’s paddy faces damage of around 15 percent in monsoon rains, while several growers faced losses of more than 90 percent in the affected areas, said Arif Hussain Mahesar, a grower and president of the Sindh Balochistan Rice Millers Association.

Low lying areas of paddy growing belt, where water can be stored for more than five days, faced heavy damages, while the majority areas were still safe, as paddy was mature by the time of the rain, he said.

Dera Murad Jamali and Osta Muhammad faced heavy damages, while the affected districts in Sindh included Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Kashmore-Kandhkot. “Individual growers have suffered huge losses, while overall crop production in Sindh will be covered from lower Sindh areas, where paddy benefited from the rain,” said Mahesar.

Upper Sindh’s five districts of Jacobabad, Larkana, Shikarpur, Kashmore-Kandhkot and Kambar-Shahdadkot produce around 70 percent paddy in Sindh over an area of two million acres. Along with the rain, arrival of water from Balochistan after damages to the Right Bank Outfall Drain (RBOD) increased the damages. Cotton on the left bank was already affected, he said.

According to official figures, recent monsoon rains have affected around 5.250 million people in 20 districts of the province, while crop standing on around 250,000 hectares were perished, besides agriculture land of around 1.5 million hectares was also affected.

Cotton affected in the left bank districts of River Indus in upper Sindh included mainly Ghotki, Khairpur and Naushero Feroze, which received heavy rains. “Trees and mango will benefit from the rains,” said Abdul Majeed Nizamani, president of Sindh Abadgar Board.

Dr. Younis Soomro, a grower from Shikarpur, said that the rains affected the paddy crop at a large scale, while estimates are underway.

Cotton benefited in parts of lower Sindh water was not stored in fields, as rain would remove white fly and other insects, which infected the crop, said Mehmood Nawaz Shah.

“Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) is mostly transferred by white fly, which will be removed. However, Sindh is not infected by the CLCV at a large scale,” he said.

Naseem Usman, chairman of the Karachi Cotton Brokers Association, said that the rains have affected the cotton crop in Upper Sindh, while it benefited cotton in those areas, where there were light to moderate showers.

Zafar Shah, a grower from Badin, said that heavy rains fell in Badin, which damaged tomato and other vegetables, while paddy was also affected in low lying areas of the district.

 

[A.Rafay]

Pakistan to make 31.4 percent gain in textile exports under EU scheme: FCCI

Mian Zahid Aslam President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) has said that EU has granted 75 items duty-free market access under the Autonomous Trade Concessions (ATCs) till December 31, 2013 of which 26 items originated in Pakistan have been offered under Tariff Regulated Quotas (TRQ) while 49 items have been covered under non-tariff regulated quotas effective from 15th November, 2012 as the package has been notified in the official Journal of EU.

As an increased market access to EU, which is the largest trading partner of Pakistan. Pakistan will make a net gain of 31.4 per cent in export of textiles under the EU Autonomous Preference Scheme, he added. Value of exports for 2011 was $1709 million and under the EU Preference Scheme, the exports are estimated to rise to $2246 million yielding in net increase of 537 million, he added. He asserted that the package will provide real and substantial support to Pakistan's exports mainly of textile exports to EU.

He continued that EU Preference Scheme was highly beneficial for the business community and urged textile exporters of Faisalabad particularly to make best use of the facility to increase their exports to EU countries. He further stated that by availing these facilities Pakistan will make double gain; firstly, they will avail the quota facilities and increase the volume of their exports and secondly, Pakistan will qualify for further concessions in the year 2014 when this quota region for these items is reviewed.

Chamber Chief however pointed out that trends in both exports and imports indicated contraction in national economy, which could cause serious repercussions for employment, fiscal outcome etc mainly because of shortage of electricity and gas to the industries. Quoting, he said that export growth was negative by 2.3 per cent in the July-September quarter while imports declined by 6 per cent during this period, indicating sluggish economic activities in the country, which could depress the export growth prospects further and put more pressure on the current account.

He continued that in the wake of lesser availability of gas particularly to Faisalabad industries from where about $4 billion exports generated annually to the national textile exports, trade surpluses will hardly be available for exports and apprehended to reap real results of the EU package to Pakistan.

Mian Zahid emphasised that country needs greater diversification in the structure and direction of trade with increased focus on value addition and increased export expansion through regional and new markets like Africa, South America and Islamic world. He urged the government for better market access by concluding FTAs and PTAs with countries of potential markets for Pakistani products and also facilitating towards emerging economic blocks of China and Russia and even neighbouring Indian market of 1.2 billion people.

He pleaded for adopting trade diplomacy which could help gain GSP Plus status for Pakistan in 2014 emphasising also to the exporters for compliance with the relevant rules of origin of products and the procedures related thereto. He also emphasised the need for a well consulted trade policy by the government in this context.

In the same wake he urged the government for policy initiatives to decrease regulatory duty on Pakistan products in EU, Reduction of Tariff and non-tariff barriers, Zero rating on raw material import for re-exports, expansion and streamlining the procedure of export re-finance scheme, concessional finance for exports, R&D support facility to all export sectors, speedy clearance of duty-draw back claims and introduction of export credit guarantee scheme as in India.

Pakistan to make 31.4 percent gain in textile exports under EU scheme: FCCI | Business Recorder

Wheat to be cultivated on 2,724 acres in Gujranwala

Over 2,724 acres of land would be brought under wheat crop during Rabi season in six districts of Gujranwala division. Official sources in Agriculture department told Business Recorder here that under the directives of Punjab government special steps had been taken for enhancement of productivity and get maximum yield of the crop through farm mechanisation in six districts of the division.

District-wise sowing target of wheat is as Gujrat 391.161 acres, Mandi Bhahauddin 352.36, Sialkot 532.734, Narowal 437.303, Gujranwala 612.434 and Hafizabad 398.502 acres of land. The wheat farmers had been directed that they should only use quality and recommended during sowing of wheat in their respected.

Sources revealed that presently 979,862 bags of 50 kg of certified seed of approved varieties with Punjab Seed Corporation and private seed companies were available through their outlets. In order to facilitate the wheat growers adequate steps have also been taken for monitoring the availability of fertiliser in each district of the division. Under the programme one of the important parameters during current wheat campaign will be the economic use of fertiliser and farmers will be advised to apply correct doze of fertiliser.

Special measures had also been taken for controlling weed and farmer community training programme would also be carried out for the promotion of weedicide use by the wheat cultivators. Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA) has already adopted 5,000 villages for the campaign wherein complete production technology including weedicide use will be promoted. In addition, a comprehensive programme has been chalked out to create awareness about timely sowing, use of certified, clean and graded seed, balanced fertiliser and weedicide application among the farmers sources added.

http://www.brecorder.com/agriculture-a-allied/183:pakistan/1258659:wheat-to-be-cultivated-on-2724-acres-in-gujranwala/?date=2012-11-16

 

[A.Rafay]

Rice exports to China rise to 800,000 tons

SINGAPORE - Pakistan’s rice exports to China have risen to about 800,000 tonnes in the year to September 2012 from negligible volumes a year ago, as the grain wins popularity for its taste and low price, traders and industry officials said on Wednesday.
Rice is the staple food in the world’s second largest economy, and Pakistani rice started making inroads into China in 2011 as a cheaper alternative to domestic and imported rice.
Chinese buyers prefer Pakistani rice over Vietnamese grades, even though it takes longer to arrive, the traders added. China is the world’s biggest rice producer and consumer.“They have liked the taste and aroma of Pakistani white rice and the prices are very attractive,” said a trader with an international trading company in Singapore.
“Looking at the demand and prices, we expect Pakistan to become a regular exporter of rice to China.”
The price of 5 percent broken Pakistani rice in the Chinese market is around $435 a tonne, including cost and freight, compared with domestic prices of more than $500 a tonne. “Pakistani rice is really competitive in the Chinese market as the freight is notoriously low. It is below $10 a tonne,” another trader said on the sidelines of a grains conference in Singapore. The lower moisture level of Pakistani rice, which enhances its shelf life, has also boosted its popularity in China. “They can keep it for a longer period and when they cook it, the rice is fluffier,” said an industry official from Bangkok.

Rice exports to China rise to 800,000 tons | The Nation

 

[SHAMK9]

Ready-made garments export grew by 14.59 percent in 4 months
ISLAMABAD: The export of ready-made garments from the country during the last four months of current financial year registered growth of 14.59 percent as compared to the same period of last year.

As many as 8,964 thousand dozens of ready-made garments worth US$ 604 million exported during the period from July-October 2012 as compared to the 8,294 thousand dozen valuing US$ 527.12 million in same period of last financial year.

According to the data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the exports of towel from the country surged by 6.62 percent as about 53,526 metric ton towel worth US$ 254 million exported during the period under review.

The export of towel during the first four months of last financial year was recorded at 46,693 metric tons with net earning of US$ 238.76 million, the data revealed.

According the data of PBS tents, canvas and tarpaulin export from the country during the period from July-October 2012 posted 38.36 percent growth as about 9,190 metric tons of tents, canvas and tarpaulin exported which added US$ 36.43 million in national accounts.

The exports of these items were recorded at 7,996 metric tons costing US$ 26.2 million during same period of last financial year.

From July to October 2012, other textile materials export grew by 62.63 percent as textile materials worth US$ 145.91 million exported as compared to the exports of US$ 89 million last first four months of last financial year.

It is pertinent to mention here that overall textile group export from the country during the period under review recorded at 4.87 percent growth as the country earned US$ 4.39 billion by exporting the textile goods as compared to US$ 4.19 billion of same period of last year.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012
Ready-made garments export grew by 14.59 percent in 4 months

 

[A.Rafay]

Agriculture accounts for 60pc of Pak exports

LAHORE - Provincial Minister for Agriculture Ahmad Ali Aulkah has said that government is spending sufficient amount of energy and resources for the promotion of bio technology.
The Provincial Minister was speaking at a seminar on “Bio-fuel Challenges and Opportunities” organized by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday. LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar, Vice Chancellor University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) Dr Talat Naseer Pasha and Convener LCCI Committee on Bio-technology Dr Shahid Raza also spoke on the occasion. The Minister said that the Punjab government had already handed over 1500 biogas plants to the rural community at a subsidy of Rs 50,000 per unit and the only objective is to promote alternate energy resources.
He said that since more than 60 per cent of country’s exports belong to agriculture therefore biotechnology is of prime importance. He said that the recent electricity shortage has badly hit the Agriculture and the industrial sectors and it is very unfortunate that the country is getting no benefit of its bio-fuel potential while by next year neighboring India would be fulfilling 20 per cent of its total energy needs through biofuels.
Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar said that there is no doubt about the enormous potential of biotechnology in Pakistan. Today, life sciences and in particular biotechnology are in a stage of exponential growth. It is rightly said that 21st Century belongs to biotechnology.
He said that there are a number of fields derived from biotechnology like agriculture biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, health biotechnology, industrial biotechnology and nano biotechnology.
He said that renewable and sustainable energy resources are the best substitute to the conventional fuels and energy sources as the business community understands that bio-fuels will reduce our dependence on petroleum to some degree and enhance energy security.
Likewise it will also contribute in rural economic development.
LESCO SITE INACTIVE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry Tuesday urged the Lesco authorities to make their sales tax portal operational as the site shows LESCO’s status as INACTIVE. “On FBR tax facilitation portal and it is depriving businessmen of sales tax adjustment being charged on electricity bills.”
In a statement issued here after receiving written complaints from a member firms, the LCCI President Farooq Iftikhar said that the FBR site’s showing LESCO as an inactive member due to non filing of sales tax return since June 2012 as such it is not responding to the businessmen seeking adjustment on electricity bills.
The LCCI president said that it is very unfortunate that huge amounts of GST charged on electricity consumption are not being adjusted as input by the FBR due to LESCO’s inactive status on FBR site.

Agriculture accounts for 60pc of Pak exports | The Nation

 

[BATMAN]

UG99-resistant wheat developed in Pakistan - Newsroom - Ag Professional

 

[A.Rafay]

Australia promoting agri research in Pakistan

FAISALABAD: “The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is promoting research in Pakistan in order to enhance selected value chains that benefit the rural poor through improved productivity market and employment opportunities,” Dr Barbara, team leader of ACIAR Pakistan, told Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, the vice chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) on Tuesday.
She said the purpose of ACIAR’s initiatives was to support analysis that improves economic and natural resource management. She added that: “Building the capacity of government, private and civil sectors to service the needs of stakeholders has also been one of the main objectives.”
Dr Barbara said that it was revealed during a baseline survey of rural areas in Sindh and Punjab that the lack of credit facilities, availability of inputs and inappropriate marketing were the core issues faced by the farming community.
Prof Khan said that UAF’s social sciences faculty was involved in conducting surveys in order to provide solid ground to formulate policies at the federal and provincial levels. He added that a proposed policy centre at the UAF campus would become a milestone in creating a solid foundation for policy making. He was of the view that internationalisation was needed to enhance the standards of education and research at the institutional level.
Dr John Spriggs, who was part of the visiting delegation, informed Khan that a baseline survey was being conducted in a village in Sindh, targeting mango growers, while another survey was being conducted in Punjab targeting dairy farmers and citrus growers. He hoped that the results of these surveys would become a source of better understanding of the horticultural and dairy sectors in Pakistan.

Australia promoting agri research in Pakistan – The Express Tribune

Textile exports surge 8.55pc to $6.458b

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan’s textile exports increased by 8.55 per cent to $6.458 billion during July-December period of the current fiscal year (2012-13) as compared to $5.590 billion in the same period of last year.
According to the figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the textile exports registered handsome growth of over 12.48 per cent in December 2012 and were recorded at $1.058 billion compared with $1.009 billion of the same period last year.
According to figures, in textiles group, the product-wise details showed that raw cotton exports went down by 51.46 per cent in July-December period of the ongoing fiscal year, cotton yarn exports increased by 38 per cent, cotton cloth 12.31 per cent, cotton carded exports declined by 85.15 per cent, yarn exports went up by 53.94 per cent, knitwear exports reduced by 2.02 per cent, bed-wear exports decreased by 9.61 per cent, towels exports enhanced by 10.98 per cent, tents 25.39 per cent, readymade garments 13.29 per cent, art silk and synthetic textile exports reduced by 19.69 per cent, made-up articles were down by 6.89 per cent and other textile materials exports increased by 62.95 per cent in July-December period of 2012-13 against the July-December 2011-12 period, said the PBS data.
Meanwhile, the figures revealed that the country’s food exports also registered an increased of 4.82 per cent in July-December period of the year 2012-13.
The break-up of food group exports revealed that rice exports went down by 12.33 per cent in the period under review, fish exports went up by 2.64 per cent, fruits exports reduced by 1.77 per cent, vegetables 38.28 per cent, pulses exports reduced by 56.68 per cent, tobacco exports reduced by 40.91 per cent, wheat exports declined by 61.49 per cent, spices exports increased by 25.07 per cent, oil seeds export increased by 41.60 per cent, sugar 100 per cent, meat 43.74 per cent and all other food items exports reduced by 17.31 per cent in the period under review. Meanwhile, in other manufactures group, exports of carpets, rugs and mats decreased by 0.12 per cent, sports goods exports decreased by 0.15 per cent and leather exports went up by 4.48 per cent.
Similarly, the engineering goods exports declined by over 54 per cent in July-December period of the current fiscal year against the same period last year.

http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/business/23-Jan-2013/textile-exports-surge-8-55pc-to-6-458b

 

[UmarJustice]

‘Agri subsidies in India three times higher than Pakistan’

LAHORE: Agriculture subsidies in India are almost three times higher than in Pakistan, according to a study conducted by the United States. According to the study conducted by senior economists about the state of affairs of agriculture sectors of India and Pakistan, India gave subsidies worth $53 billion to the agriculture sector in 2008-09, while Pakistan provided subsidies of $2.676 billion. In India, subsidies are 5.2 percent of the gross national product (GNP), while in Pakistan subsidies are just 1.2 percent of GNP.



Referring to the data compiled by the WTO Trade Policy Review, it is assessed in a study conducted under the aegis of US Agency for International Development (USAID) that agriculture subsidy has been calculated at 15.3 percent of the value of production. In Pakistan, subsidies are 4.9 percent of value of production. Subsidies as of value-added in agriculture stood at 23 percent in India, while in Pakistan, subsidies are just 6.2 percent of the value-added in agriculture.



The contents of the report were also explained to the highups of the ministry of commerce in a presentation on potential impact, level playing field and policy options of Pakistan- India trade liberalisation last week. The trade negotiations between India and Pakistan gained momentum last year. However, recent tension on borders has led to dampening such activities.



Nevertheless, as a strategic initiative, the two countries have been working jointly for increasing trade between them. Agriculture subsidies to Indian farmers, on the other hand, have been the source of concern for the farming community of Pakistan. Local farmers believe that the cost of production of Indian farmers is considerably less as compared to them.



Meanwhile, according to a report prepared by the United States International Trade Commission in 2011, agricultural trade policy in India is part of a larger food and agriculture policy regime that seeks to maintain food self-sufficiency, while providing income support to the agricultural sector and poor consumers. The government of India uses a variety of policy instruments in attempting to achieve these goals, including domestic subsidies to inputs, output, transportations, storage and consumption to reduce producers cost and consumer prices. Other policy instruments are aimed at measures such as subsidies, tariff, quotas, and nontariff measures to protect domestic producers from import competition, manage domestic price level and guarantee domestic supply, it said.



As per the assessment of USITC, inputs subsidies are the most expensive aspect of India’s food and agriculture policy regime, requiring a steadily larger budget share. Such quantum of subsidies results in effective financial support to the farmers of 40 to 75 percent for fertiliser and 70 to 90 percent for irrigation and electricity. India’s agricultural sector is more dependent on input subsidies than that of the other large emerging economies. In calendar year 2007, India’s input subsidies were equal to 9.6 percent of the value of its total agricultural output as compared to less than five percent for China, Brazil and Russia, it said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-Ne...ies-in-India-three-times-higher-than-Pakistan

 

[A.Rafay]

Textile exports grow 6.14% to reach $10.7bn in 10-month

ISLAMABAD: The textile exports from the country posted positive growth of 6.14 percent during the first ten months of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

The overall textile exports during July-April 2012-13 were recorded at $10.749 billion against the exports of $10.127 billion during July-April 2011-12, according to the latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The commodities contributed in enhancing country’s textile exports included cotton yarn, exports of which increased from $1.468 billion last year to $1.851 billion during the year under review, showing surge of 26.08 percent.

Similarly the exports of cotton cloth increased from $2.004 billion to $2.231 billion, showing growth of 11.31 percent.

The other textile products witnessed positive growth in exports included yarn other than cotton yarn, exports of which increased by 12.93 percent by going up from $29.476 million to $33.288 million while the exports of knitwear increased from $1.624 billion to $1.663 billion, showing growth of 2.36 percent.

Exports of bed wear increased by 1.03 percent from $1.452 billion to $1.467 billion whereas the exports of towels increased from $554.262 million to $647.360 million, showing expansion of 16.80 percent.

The exports of tents, canvas and tarpaulin during the period under review also surged by 47.20 percent from $69.353 million to $102.091 million while the exports of readymade garments increased from $1.319 billion to $1.475 billion, showing growth of 11.82 percent.

Similarly the exports of made up articles (excluding towels and beadwear) increased by 2.45 percent, from $475.837 million to $487.506 million, while exports of other textile materials increased from $250.119 million to $328.001 million, showing growth of 31.14 percent.

The textile commodities witnessed negative growth in exports included raw cotton, exports of which decreased by 68.15 percent, by falling from $433.535 million to $138.077 million.

Exports of cotton carded or combed decreased from $11.617 million to $5.954 million, showing negative growth of 48.75 percent and the exports of art, silk and synthetic textile also declined by 26.61 percent from $433.655 million to $318.247 million.

The overall exports from the country increased from $19.329 billion in July-April 2011-12 to $20.147 billion during July-April 2012-13. app

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