Cotton farmers in Sindh are going through one of the hardest seasons in recent years. Heavy monsoon rains have flooded large areas of farmland, destroying crops in several districts. For growers already struggling with high farming costs and low profits, the losses are massive. Cotton is not only Sindh’s main crop but also the backbone of Pakistan’s textile industry, so the damage has raised serious concerns.
Last year, Sindh produced almost 3.93 million bales of cotton, very close to the target of 4 million. For this year, the government set a target of 0.63 million hectares for sowing. But by mid-June, only 0.55 million hectares had been planted – just 87 percent of the target and 14 percent less than last year. This slow sowing was already worrying, and now the unexpected heavy rains have made things worse by damaging the crop at an early stage.
The cost of cotton production has become too high for most farmers. They spend a lot on preparing the land and buying fertilizers like Urea and DAP, along with micronutrients and pesticides to protect the crop. Many farmers take loans to pay these expenses, hoping they will earn enough when the crop is sold. But the income rarely matches the costs. Last year, the government fixed the support price at Rs 8,700 per 40 kilograms, but farmers in Sindh often had to sell at just Rs7,650. In Punjab, the price was slightly higher at Rs7,900. Farmers argue that with today’s high costs, they need at least Rs11,000 per maund to make a fair profit.
This year’s rains have badly hit cotton-growing districts such as Sanghar, Mirpur Khas, Tando Adam, Tando Allahyar, Nawabshah, and Tandojam. Reports from these areas show large fields under water, with many plants damaged or destroyed. Apart from reducing the harvest, the rains have also lowered the quality of cotton fiber, which means the crop sells for less in the market. For farmers who depend only on cotton, the damage is unbearable.
Small farmers are the most affected. Unlike large landowners, they have no savings or extra sources of income to fall back on. Their families depend completely on cotton to repay loans, buy food, and meet daily needs. When natural disasters strike during the crop season, they are left with nothing. Climate change has made farming even riskier, as extreme floods, droughts, and heat-waves are now becoming more common and destructive.
Adding to their woes, cotton factories and ginning units are offering very low prices despite the heavy losses. This means farmers cannot even recover their production costs, forcing many into debt. Experts warn that without urgent government action, thousands of farmers may give up cotton farming altogether. That would not only hurt Sindh’s agriculture but also Pakistan’s textile industry, which depends heavily on this crop.
Farmers are calling for immediate government support. They want fair prices for their cotton, compensation for damaged crops, and cheaper access to fertilizers and pesticides. In the long run, experts stress the need for climate-resilient farming, better irrigation systems, and crop insurance to protect small farmers from disasters. Without timely steps, Sindh’s cotton sector could fall into deeper crisis, creating serious problems for the national economy.
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