Pak-China cooperation opens new era for cotton research, mechanization

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Jul, 2026) Cotton production in Pakistan has all the ingredients to remain a powerful economic driver, strong genetic potential, large cultivation area, skilled farmers, and a massive textile industry that depends on local cotton.

Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) Commercial Ambassador Adeel Munawar stated this in a meeting held here at PCJCCI Secretariat on Monday.

He, however, mentioned that Pakistan harvested 5.6 million bales of cotton last season, which is the lowest point in the past 30 years. "What holds the crop back is not a lack of ability but a lack of consistent, science-based field management. When growers follow the principles and correct sowing time, balanced nutrition, timely irrigation, IPM, disease prevention, weed control, growth stage-based decisions, and careful harvesting cotton responds immediately with higher boll load, cleaner fiber, and stronger yields."

Commercial Ambassador shared that in research trials across Punjab and Sindh, the most significant performance gaps aren’t due to climate alone they’re due to management differences. Fields which maintain balanced nitrogen, avoid over-irrigation, manage whitefly pressure early, and prevent pink bollworm buildup consistently outperform neighboring farms planted with the same variety. This reinforces what scientists and experienced growers already know: Cotton Production in Pakistan is a management-driven crop, not a luck-driven one. Cotton responds sharply to temperature, humidity, and day length and each production zone in Pakistan has its own climate challenges.

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Understanding these zones isn’t optional; it’s the foundation of thoughtful planning.

He also shared that the heat resistance of Pakistani cotton is excellent. The high-yield and high-quality traits of Chinese cotton are also what Pakistan seeds need. The germplasm resources of China and Pakistan are complementary. China can send new cotton seeds to Pakistan for adaptability test and select the best ones and use them for production. "We are mixing the advantages of China cotton and Pakistan cotton to create new cotton varieties this is one of the microcosms of the ongoing China-Pakistan cotton collaboration."

He added that Xinjiang Agricultural University collaborated with Pakistani universities in cotton cultivation for a few years. They have experimental fields in Faisalabad and plan to test mechanical picking in Pakistan. In North Xinjiang, one of the biggest cotton areas in China, the mechanization is 90 percent, they use machine picking everywhere, adding that drought-resistant and water-saving technologies in Xinjiang including drip irrigation and mulching are also leading the world. Such technologies and equipment can be transferred to Pakistan to assist them coping with the current dilemma. China and Pakistan need to assist each other to improve the cotton production together.

Salahuddin Hanif, Secretary General PCJCCI added that a modern biotechnology center of excellence laboratory is about to be set up at CCRI to promote cotton research activities. China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is opening new avenues for cotton research and development to solidify PCCC on modern scientific lines.