Govt warned not to import raw cotton from Pak

NAGPUR, JANUARY 11: Cotton technocrats in the country have cautioned the Union Government against import of raw cotton from Pakistan. They...

NAGPUR, JANUARY 11: Cotton technocrats in the country have cautioned the Union Government against import of raw cotton from Pakistan. They have pointed out that apart from destabilising the domestic cotton market, the move will lead to import of dreaded cotton diseases which may wipe out the crop in the country.

A letter has been recently sent to Dr R S Paroda, secretary, Union Department of Agriculture research and education, urging him to review the decision in view of the serious drawbacks. The letter has been written under the aegis of the Central Institute of Cotton Research CICR 8212; the premier cotton research institute in the country, headquartered here.

Grave concern has been expressed that the dreaded Cotton Leaf Curl Virus CLCV, which has reduced the productivity of cotton crop in Pakistan by half, will enter the country along with the raw cotton. The CLCV leads to the leaf curl 8212; one of the most dreaded disease in cotton.

The cotton crop in the country till now has been thankfully freeof the disease, the only zone to be partially affected being North India. Scientists have cautioned that as the raw cotton from Pakistan is offloaded at Mumbai, the virus will spread to Central India and further to southern parts, taking almost the entire cotton growing area in its grip.

India is already importing raw cotton from Pakistan under the open general licence OGL regime. Sources said that about 10 lakh bales of cotton has already arrived in the country from Pakistan in the current season. The trade is continuing and 5,000 to 10,000 bales are being imported every day, they claimed. The import to the tune of several lakh bales has been planned by certain textile manufacturers with a view that the cotton of superior quality is available from Pakistan at a lower price.

The technocrats argue that the decision to import cotton was taken on the basis of the cotton situation in 1998-99. Last year, cotton production and quality was highly affected due to pestilence. However, there is still a carryforward stock of 40 lakh bales available in the country.

To add to that, the country is projected to produce a bumper cotton crop of 180 lakh bales this year. With the domestic requirement of cotton projected at 130 lakh bales, the production would more than suffice the requirements. Additional import of cotton would thus destabilise the domestic cotton market and the overall economics, it is being said.

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The technocrats have also expressed concern at the impending threat of the leaf curl disease. The cotton crop in Pakistan is seriously ridden with the disease. The affliction has led to 50 per cent decrease in the productivity of the crop during the last five years.