Rise in mercury ‘affects’ cotton seed germination in Punjab
LAHORE: An ‘unprecedented’ rise in temperatures has sharply reduced cotton seed germination this year, raising fears of a serious shortage of certified seed for the 2026-27 cotton crop and potentially affecting next season’s sowing. Cotton seed germination, normally expected to remain above 70 per cent under suitable temperatures of around 30°C, had fallen to nearly 30pc as temperatures reached…
LAHORE: An unprecedented surge in temperatures this year has significantly diminished cotton seed germination rates, sparking concerns over a potential shortage of certified seed for the 2026-27 cotton crop and the subsequent sowing season. Cotton seed germination, typically maintaining levels above 70% under ideal temperatures of approximately 30°C, plunged to around 30% as heat soared to 40-41°C in critical cotton-growing regions.
Cotton Ginners Forum chairman Ihsanul Haq highlighted that the unusually high temperatures triggered premature opening of cotton bolls. While this might initially boost yield per acre, the detrimental effect on seed germination could lead to a certified seed shortage for the upcoming season. He urged authorities to temporarily relax seed-germination standards for cotton to allow seed companies to provide the maximum number of certified seeds to farmers and avert a drop in cotton cultivation.
Adverse weather conditions over recent years, along with insufficient and untimely weather predictions, have been held responsible for creating significant challenges for agriculture, especially cotton. Ihsanul Haq attributed this to the cotton prices in global markets potentially improving if the anticipated meeting between Chinese and US presidents in the upcoming days yields positive decisions on bilateral trade.
He noted that any enhancement in international cotton prices could have a beneficial impact on Pakistani markets, supporting an upward trend in local cotton and phutti prices. The National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority has announced plans to hold cotton traveling seminars in major cotton zones, such as Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Sukkur, Faisalabad, Tando Jam, and Sakrand.
These seminars aim to gather research institutions, agriculture departments, seed companies, scientists, experts, and farmers to devise a unified strategy for boosting cotton production through quality seed, modern varieties, and improved production technologies.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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