LAHORE: In a significant shift driven by changing climatic patterns, cotton sowing has begun for the first time during the second week of November in several coastal areas of Sindh, marking a major departure from traditional agricultural practices.
The unprecedented winter sowing comes as the country’s leading agricultural research institutions partner to address the challenges posed by climate change.
Traditionally, Pakistan had two distinct cotton-growing zones: the coastal districts of Sindh, where sowing began in February and March, and the rest of the country, where planting took place from May 1 to the first week of June.
Over the years, though, changing temperature patterns have shifted the sowing season to February in coastal Sindh and some districts of Punjab, and to April-May in other areas.
However, reports indicate that favourable temperatures during the second week of November have encouraged farmers in the coastal districts of Thatta and Sujawal, including Chuhar Jamali, Mirpur Sakro, Gharo, Buhara, Keti Bunder and Chhachh Jahan, to begin cotton sowing.
Farmers are using fields cleared after the rice harvest, while some are inter-cropping cotton with standing tomato crops.
Experts say that if temperatures remained favourable throughout November and early December, a record area could be brought under cotton cultivation in these districts, with sowing expected to continue until February and March.
They believe that a successful crop could lead to an unprecedentedly early start to the cotton ginningseasonin selected areas of Sindh by as early as March.
Commenting on the development, Cotton Ginners Forum Chairman Ihsanul Haq said ‘unseasonal’ temperature fluctuations in recent years had severely disrupted Pakistan’s crop cycles, reducing per-acre yields, compromising crop quality and dealing a blow to the national economy.