Commodity Online
KARACHI : Cotton and paddy crops in Pakistan’s main producing province of Sindh is likely to affect severely this kharif season due to acute warer shortages, according to Sindh Chamber of Agriculture.

In a report issued here it said, damage to more than 50 per cent production of cotton and paddy is likely this year in Sindh amid 40 per cent water shortage.

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This year, Sindh has a production target of 3.25 million bales of cotton over an area of 0.5 million hectares and 2.03 million tones of paddy over 0.642 million hectares.

However, the water shortage has badly affected the sowing of both the crops across the province and growers have protested.

The Sindh government has taken serious notice of sowing paddy in cotton exclusive districts and has stopped the practice this year. Paddy consumes more water and nothing would be left for cotton. Paddy needs regular supply of water besides cotton.

Nevertheless the growers in tail-end areas of Indus are worried that the target of both major crops may not be achieved due to water shortage.

New variety of BT cotton requires almost double water than previous varieties. BT cotton has been sown by majority of growers, which requires at least 6 waters compared to 2 to 3 waters provided to other local varieties of cotton.