Pakistan may be on the verge of - officially – opening up to genetically modified seed, although the switch may come too late to boost yields this year in cotton, which farmers are planting with outdated technology.
Progress on several fronts on reform of seed approval and intellectual property regulations may “be operational in 2018, opening Pakistan to the official introduction of modern biotechnology… for the first time in its history”, the US Department of Agriculture bureau in Islamabad said.
The move would not mean Pakistan farmers growing biotech crops for the first time.
The country’s farmers have grown genetically modified cotton for some 15 years on what the bureau termed an “informal” basis, with GM seed now accounting for some 95% of seedings.
“While those events were eventually recognised officially, the regulatory structure that is currently moving towards final approval will allow the official introduction of new technologies.”
Producers vs consumers
A USDA report last year flagged that “Pakistan’s agricultural community is generally supportive of the expanded utilisation of biotechnology.
“Consumer acceptance is more mixed, but the production and consumption of biotech crops is generally accepted.”
On imports, that report added that the country already brings in “significant quantities of biotech crops like cotton, canola, and soybeans to support its textile industry and meet food and feed requirements”.
‘Prone to insect and diseases’
The bureau’s comments came as it made its first estimates for Pakistani cotton supply and demand for 2018-19, forecasting output extending its recovery for a third successive season, by 500,000 bales to a four-year high of 8.80m bales.
The forecast assumed a rise of 200,000 hectares to 2.80m hectares in sowings - newly begun in Sindh, and poised to start next week in the top growing province of Punjab – with plantings spurred by disillusion with sugar cane.
“Forecasts of firmer global cotton prices and frustration with delays in sugarcane payments from sugar mills are expected to encourage some farmers to shift to cotton,” the bureau said.
However, hopes for yield improvements were undermined by the continued use of the outdated biotech seed, meaning “crops are susceptible to bollworms”.
“The narrow genetic base of cotton germplasm is prone to insect and diseases and is one of the major factors influencing crop productivity in the country.”
Import prospects
Pakistan’s cotton imports for 2018-19 were forecast at 2.40m bales, a drop of 200,000 bales from this season, reflecting the increased production hopes.
The country imports primarily better grades of cotton, for lifting the quality of its domestic textile output to export grade.
“Typical imports include upland and long staple cotton, as well as medium staple cotton, to augment domestic supplies for processing and re-export.”