Key Takeaways
- Pakistan approved 14 new cotton varieties to support the textile industry.
- The approved varieties feature improved fibre quality and higher ginning outturn.
- CCRI Multan developed 11 of the 14 varieties, while CCRI Sakrand contributed three.
Pakistan has taken a significant step towards bolstering its textile industry by approving 14 new high-quality cotton varieties. These developments are part of an ongoing initiative to enhance the country's cotton seed portfolio and support the broader textile value chain.
The approved varieties, developed primarily by two major research institutions—Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan and CCRI Sakrand—are designed to improve fibre quality, increase ginning outturn, provide heat tolerance, drought resistance, and bollworm resistance. According to official documents, the new cotton varieties are expected to significantly impact the textile sector.
CCRI Multan accounted for 11 of the approved varieties, while CCRI Sakrand contributed three. The specific names of these varieties include Bt CIM-663, Bt CIM-678, Bt CIM-785, Bt Cyto-535, Cyto-226, CIM-775, CIM-343, Cyto-537, Cyto-511, Bt CIM-775 and Bt CIM-990. The three varieties from CCRI Sakrand are Bt CRIS-682, Bt CRIS-674, and CRIS-644.
The newly approved cotton varieties have recorded impressive ginning outturn (GOT) ranging from 38.2% to 42.3%, staple length of up to 29.6mm, and fibre strength of up to 33.5. These metrics are crucial for the textile industry as they directly influence the quality of yarns and fabrics produced.
Micronaire measures fibre fineness and maturity, with an ideal range between 3.5 and 4.9. All approved varieties fall within this range, ensuring consistent performance in spinning mills. Fibre strength, which determines the force a cotton fibre can withstand before breaking, is another critical factor. Varieties like CIM-775, Bt Cyto-535, and Cyto-537 recorded fibre strengths ranging from 28.3 to 33.5, making them highly suitable for textile production.
Ginning outturn, or the percentage of lint obtained after ginning seed cotton, ranged from 38.2% to 42.3%. A GOT of 38% to 40% is generally considered good, while anything above 40% is regarded as excellent. Among the approved varieties, CIM-775 recorded the highest ginning outturn at 42.3%, along with a staple length of 27.1mm and a micronaire value of 4.8.
The development of these cotton varieties underscores Pakistan's commitment to advancing its textile industry through scientific research and innovation. The approved varieties are expected to enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global market by providing high-quality raw materials for domestic and international textile manufacturers.
