CURRENT SITUATION AND PROSPECTS OF COTTON PRODUCTION IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Pakistan is the world's fifth-largest cotton producer. It is grown largely for fibre, and its oil is used as a vegetable oil and contributes significantly to the local oil industry. Cottonseed oil meets 18.1% of Pakistan's edible oil needs. In 2030, there will be 5.5 million tonnes of total demand for this purpose, with 2 million tonnes of local supply. Bt cotton, which was introduced in 2010 to remove three harmful lepidopteran insects, currently accounts for more than 90% of all cotton grown in Pakistan. Pakistan offers a lot of potential for organic cotton cultivation, particularly in unconventional cotton-growing locations with low insect burdens. Climate change-induced high temperatures and water scarcity are a big worry because contemporary agriculture is practiced in areas that already experience very high temperatures. Phenotypic selection in breeding is ineffective in creating stress-tolerant cotton. Marker-assisted selection technologies have considerably increased the effectiveness of traditional breeding. Modern breeding techniques contributed to the development of novel cotton breeding strategies. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9 and genome editing can establish a good foundation for improving resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses.