Early cotton sowing promises higher yield

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Feb, 2026) The Punjab agriculture department has launched a province-wide campaign to promote early cotton cultivation, setting a target of 700,000 acres for the current season in a bid to strengthen production, improve quality, and counter climate-related challenges.

Director General Information, Agriculture Department Punjab, Naveed Ismat Kahloon, said cotton remains Pakistan’s most important cash crop, playing a pivotal role in foreign exchange earnings and sustaining the textile industry. Nearly 70 percent of the country’s total cotton production comes from Punjab.

He maintained that climate change including erratic rainfall and unusual temperature fluctuations has adversely affected crop cycles in recent years. Rising temperatures and shifting rain patterns have also intensified pest attacks and disease outbreaks. However, research findings show that early-sown cotton performs comparatively better under climatic stress, faces reduced pressure from sucking pests, and produces higher yield and improved fiber quality due to a longer growth period.

The recommended sowing window for early cotton is from mid-February to March 31, subject to suitable temperature conditions. The divisions of Multan, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Dera Ghazi Khan are considered most suitable for early cultivation.

Under the supervision of Provincial Agriculture Minister Syed Ashiq Hussain Kirmani and Secretary Agriculture Iftikhar Ali Sahoo, field formations have been assigned special targets to ensure maximum acreage under early cotton.

Farmers have been advised to use only certified triple-gene varieties approved by the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department to ensure resistance against pests, particularly pink bollworm, and compatibility with glyphosate weed control. Non-certified or non-triple-gene seeds may result in crop damage.

Experts recommend maintaining a row distance of 2.5 feet and plant spacing of 1.5 to 2 feet for optimal plant population. Farmers are further advised to conduct germination tests before sowing and use treated, disease-free seed to protect crops from early-stage infections, especially cotton leaf curl virus transmitted by whitefly.

Balanced fertilizer application based on soil fertility has also been emphasized. Phosphorus and potash fertilizers, along with one-quarter of nitrogen, should be applied at land preparation, while the remaining nitrogen should be split into four to five doses during crop growth. The use of well-decomposed farmyard manure or green manure is encouraged to enhance soil health.

Officials expressed optimism that timely early sowing would not only increase cultivated area but also improve cotton quality, enabling better returns in international markets while allowing farmers to vacate fields early for subsequent crops.