Pakistan has allowed the import of hybrid cottonseed after prolonged delays in issuing the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Under the newly released SOPs, only hybrid cottonseed imports on a trial basis have been allowed. The imported seed will have to undergo two years of cultivation trials in different cotton zones and obtain certification from relevant authorities before commercial imports can begin.
The delay in issuing the procedures has effectively made the policy redundant for this year, as farmers have already completed or are close to completing cotton sowing.
The imported seed will be tested under strict supervision for fibre length, fibre strength, quality, and resistance to cotton leaf curl virus, extreme temperatures, water stress, and other diseases. Only after successful performance over two crop cycles will the seed be eligible for commercial use.
Under the policy, only registered seed companies and cotton research stations will be allowed to import and test the seed, while individuals and unauthorized entities have been excluded.
Ihsanul Haq said the main challenge facing Pakistan’s cotton sector goes beyond seed quality. He said the continued expansion of sugarcane cultivation and sugar mills in traditional cotton zones has altered the local climate, raised humidity levels, and increased the spread of viral diseases affecting cotton crops.
He cited Rahim Yar Khan as a major example, where cotton acreage has dropped sharply due to the spread of sugarcane farming and sugar mills. He added that unless crop zoning laws are strictly enforced, including limits on sugarcane expansion in cotton areas, the sector will continue to face structural decline despite the import policy.