By Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar

Texas Tech University

The Cotton Crop Assessment Committee of Pakistan on Thursday, January 26 decided the countryΆs 2011-12 cotton crop to be 12.598 million bales (170 kg each). The area cultivated is projected to be about 7.924 million acres.

The committee kept the production estimate the same as it was from the meeting held on the December 20, 2011. The output estimate is far less than the 14 million bale number which the country was previously expected to produce in 2011-12.

Pakistani media reports indicate that the meeting was chaired by PakistanΆs Federal Textile Minister and attended by major stakeholders involving Pakistan Textile Mills Association, Karachi Cotton Association and Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association.

Punjab province is estimated to produce 10.133 million bales.

The crop estimate was however not agreed to by Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association as its expected figure was 14 million bales, according to a report in PakistanΆs Business Recorder.