Cotton picking begins as prices plummet

Cotton picking has started in most coastal towns of Sindh and a few areas of Punjab as some ginners have announced making their factories operational in the first week of June. Though picking during the last season had begun a few days earlier than this season, the volume of cotton arrivals in the market was much more than this May. However, the downward trend of cotton prices in the local and foreign markets has not abated, sending a wave of concern among the entire cotton sector that cotton may also face a wheat-like future in the country. Badin, Thatta, Mirpur Sakro, Tando Bago, Gharo, Chor Jamali, and Jhado are among the Sindh towns where cotton picking has started. At the same time, there are also reports that cotton harvesting has begun in some Punjab towns.