Interview with Mr Arif Nadeem – CEO, Pakistan Agriculture Coalition
[box type=”shadow” align=”” class=”” width=””]Arif Nadeem has over 35 years experience in the public sector and is an expert in public policy and administration. Prior to joining Pakistan Agricultural Coalition (PAC) he served as Secretary to the Government of Punjab in the departments of Agriculture, Irrigation and Health. He is known to be an authority on the procedural functioning of federal, provincial and local governments and holds extensive knowledge of Pakistani laws, rules and regulations. He has worked closely with various UN Agencies and international aid organizations (World Bank, ADB, DFID, USAID and CIDA) and managed several large projects (both local and foreign-funded). He holds a Masters Degree in Political Science from the University of Punjab. He also has to his credit various courses and trainings at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, National School of Public Policy , NIPA and CSA. Following are excerpts from an exclusive interview with Arif Nadeem.[/box]
PAGE: What is the estimated quantum of cotton shortfall in Pakistan this year?
Arif Nadeem: It is estimated this year cotton demand will be around 16 million bales (170kg), as against an indigenous production of 7.5 million bales, resulting in an estimated shortfall of about 8 million bales. The situations demands taking immediate steps to facilitate efficient working of all the sub-sectors of textile industry, to retain Pakistan’s share in global textile market. If the Government of Pakistan (GoP) is not ready to allow import cotton from India, souring from other countries must be completed as soon as possible.
PAGE: If local spinners are not allowed to import cotton from India, which countries could be other likely suppliers?
Arif Nadeem: Without any prejudice, cost of Indian cotton is low as compared to the commodity imported from other countries. Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Brazil, Australia and United States are the other major cotton producing countries, each offering certain advantages and disadvantages. As Pakistan faces acute shortage cotton, the private sector should be allowed to import it at its own, rather than involving any other entity.
PAGE: Why can’t Pakistan import Chinese cotton?
Arif Nadeem: China despite being a large producer of cotton is a net importer of the commodity due to large appetite of the indigenous industry.
PAGE: What factors have led to this shortfall?
Arif Nadeem: Use of substandard seed is the main cause of low production and productivity. Pakistan’s cotton seed sector is dominated by brownbag to tune of 70%. These seed typically yield 30%-50% germination. To achieve desired plant population, 16kg of seed is used by Pakistani farmers as opposed to 4.5kg used globally. Due to low germination, 4 seeds are being planted on each hill rather than one believing that at least one plant would survive. Either none emerge or all 4 emerge which requires filling the gaps through dibbling (planting seeds again). In case all the 4 germinate, rouging (moving plant) has to be done to provide adequate space to the cotton plant.
Plants of different heights due to low varietal purity make agronomy extremely difficult.
Bollgard-1 event which is freely available was pirated and kept losing its toxicity far earlier than 120 days. Resultantly, pink bollworm has become resistant to it. Despite using GMO, are still spraying pesticides to fight bollworms.
Use of perethroids to kill bollworms results in killing of natural predators and friendly pests, which results in flare-up of white flies.
PAGE: Cotton output has been on persistent decline, what efforts were made to overcome this problem?
Arif Nadeem: Ironically, no focused and persistent efforts have been made which that could yield dividends.
PAGE: Why have these efforts not yielded the desired results?
Arif Nadeem: Efforts are being made to reform government organizations which is a time consuming activity. Currently, majority of research organizations under Pakistan Central Cotton Committee are barely being paid the salary amount leaving very little for research.
There are complaints of these functionaries passing on precious material to seed multipliers thereby becoming a pipeline to the brownbag industry.
The regulator has hardly taken any practical steps to eliminate brownbag, which use low quality seed.
PAGE: Can loss of standing crops be attributed to pest/virus attacks?
Arif Nadeem: Cotton Leaf Curl Virus, low germination, low levels of purity results in low levels of toxins against pests. Non-conducive environment for seed companies is the main cause of selling of substandard seeds in the country.
PAGE: Can this phenomenon be attributed to low resistance against pest/virus attacks?
Arif Nadeem: Yes, combination of all of the above factors has resulted in damage to the standing crop on a year on year basis. Use of substandard seeds often affects, cotton plants grown in the adjoining fields.
PAGE: What measures should be taken to achieve real potential of cotton crop in Pakistan?
Arif Nadeem: The GoP should facilitate top quality private sector companies to breed quality seeds, by creating conducive environment for them to be profitable and flourish by re-investing in research.