Cotton research institutions matter a lot

Pakistan’s cotton history demonstrates that whenever the country achieved exceptional production, it was primarily due to the scientific research of national agricultural research institutions, the development of improved varieties, effective technology transfer and strong coordination among institutions. In 1991–92 Pakistan recorded roughly 12. 8 million bales, with traditional varieties such as NIAB-78 and S-12 playing a central role. These two varieties dominated much of Punjab’s cotton area for nearly a decade and contributed significantly to national output. Subsequently, severe outbreaks of Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV) impacted those varieties; in response, CCRI Multan developed resistant varieties such as CIM-1100, CIM-448 and CIM-499, which supported cotton production despite intense viral pressure. Across different periods, varieties developed by national research institutions remained dominant on the cotton belt for many years. Notably, CCRI Multan’s CIM-496 held extraordinary prevalence across Punjab’s cotton belt from around 2003 to 2009. In 2004–05, Pakistan achieved a record production of approximately 14. 8 million bales, with substantial contributions from CIM-499, CIM-496 and CIM-473 as well as NIAB-111 and the FH series. Later, with the advent of the Bt technology era during 2010–2012, varieties such as MNH-886, FH-142, FH-113, CIM-598 and IUB-13 gained prominence during the 2010s and played a key role in the approximately 14. 0 million bales produced in 2014-15. Crop reporting surveys still show that varieties developed by public research institutions occupy a significant share of area under cotton. This continuity demonstrates that, over the past four decades, national research institutions’ varieties have formed the backbone of Pakistan’s cotton production system. Behind these successes were national leaderships by the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), varietal testing through National Coordinated Varietal Trials (NCVT), effective inter-institutional coordination and timely technology transfer to farmers. These historical facts are clear: Pakistan’s cotton achievements have always been tied to strong national research institutions, superior varieties and scientific research. Therefore, the effective path to cotton recovery is not to establish new institutions but to strengthen, empower and resource the existing national research system. The sustained decline in cotton production after 2014-15 is not solely the result of a shortage of varieties; it reflects a combination of structural problems. The market is flooded with poor-quality and counterfeit seed, climate change has increased heat stress and erratic rainfall, pests especially pink bollworm has developed resistance, and farmers have shifted from cotton to other crops. Over the past decade the area under cotton has declined markedly, directly reducing aggregate production. During the same period national research institutions; especially, the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee and CCRI Multan, faced severe financial crises, administrative stagnation and delays in receiving necessary funds and resources, which adversely affected national cotton research, the development of new varieties and ultimately production. Restoring area and improving yields cannot rely on varieties alone without addressing institutional financial and managerial strengthening. At present, the need is not to create new institutions but to increase the capacity of existing national research organizations. The Pakistan Central Cotton Committee, CCRI Multan, NIAB, NIBGE, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI), CEMB and other institutions possess decades of research experience, trained personnel, valuable germplasm, modern breeding material and extensive records across diverse agro-ecological conditions. This is a national asset that should be reinforced, not fragmented. CCRI Multan is Pakistan’s largest specialized cotton research institute, housing research programmes in breeding, genetics, biotechnology, entomology, pathology, agronomy, physiology and technology transfer. The institute maintains the country’s largest cotton gene pool, with over 6, 000 germplasm accessions collected from 41 countries. This invaluable genetic repository underpins national breeding programmes and is used to develop new varieties that are climate-resilient, higher-yielding and resistant to pests and diseases. Public research institutions are also actively engaged in modern breeding and biotechnology. CEMB is conducting research on single-gene, double-gene and triple-gene technologies, while other institutions are developing modern genetic material. The requirement is that this genetic material be shared effectively with the breeding programs at CCRI Multan, NIAB, AARI and NIBGE so it can be incorporated into local germplasm and accelerate the development of improved varieties. Policy should focus on addressing the fundamental weaknesses of these institutions. In particular, a permanent solution is required for the financial difficulties facing CCRI Multan and the PCCC. A major cause of funding shortfalls has been issues in collecting the cotton cess. Whereas cess collections were approximately PKR 632 million in 2014-15, they fell to about PKR 211 million in 2023-24. This decline has deeply affected research capacity. It is essential to reform the cess collection system, ensure timely disbursement of research funds, fill vacant scientific positions with high-quality researchers and upgrade laboratories and field stations to meet modern requirements. Strong institutions produce strong research and strong research is the foundation of sustainable agricultural development. If, under a right-sizing policy, the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee is integrated with the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), this should be seen not merely as an administrative change but as an opportunity to empower and resource national cotton research. Under PARC, a dedicated, empowered national platform for cotton should be created, integrating all relevant federal and provincial research institutes, universities and the private sector. The platform’s success will depend on an effective and autonomous management structure that is free from unnecessary approvals and lengthy administrative processes and has the authority for timely decision-making. Pakistan’s national cotton research institutions hold scientific assets accumulated over decades that cannot be created quickly for a new agency. They possess historical agricultural and climatic records, soil information, multi-location trial results and an extensive germplasm collection. Strengthening these institutions is, therefore, equivalent to preserving and effectively using national scientific capital and institutional memory. The private sector has an important role, but it should be supportive and complementary. Private firms can play an effective role in commercial scaling of research outputs, seed multiplication and technology dissemination. However, strategic public-sector responsibilities such as conservation of genetic resources, core research and policy leadership should remain with state research institutions. Presently, market irregularities and a weak seed-certification system undermine farmers’ confidence, so the private sector needs regulation and greater transparency. Successful agricultural systems worldwide follow this model: public institutions conduct fundamental and strategic research while private actors’ partner to commercialize and deliver technologies to farmers. The same model would be the most effective, scientific and enduring approach for Pakistan’s cotton recovery. For the revival of cotton and strengthening the economy, the most effective path is to reinforce existing national institutions, particularly PCCC and CCRI Multan, because they already possess decades of scientific experience, trained scientists, extensive germplasm, historical agrometeorological data and proven breeding lines that cannot be acquired by new agencies without years of effort and large investments. Creating new institutions would waste precious time and resources, fragment research efforts and weaken coordination, whereas addressing the financial, administrative and technical weaknesses of existing institutions can yield immediate and practical results. Successful agricultural countries have advanced by empowering and resourcing their established public research institutions rather than creating new ones. Therefore, Pakistan’s most efficient, cost-effective and rapid route to cotton recovery is to strengthen and empower its current national institutions, especially PCCC and CCRI Multan, rather than relying on experimental new agencies. If integration of the PCCC into PARC proceeds, it should be pursued as an opportunity to provide these institutions with enhanced resources, authorities and national-level coordination so that the country’s historic scientific capital is not lost but rather is reinforced. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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