Cultivation: 12 new cotton varieties approved

LAHORE: The Punjab Seed Council (PSC) has approved 10 new genetically modified (Bt) and two non-Bt cotton varieties for cultivation in the Punjab. The approved Bt varieties are: FH Lalazaar, MNH-988, BH-184, VH-305, AGC-777, CEMB-33, BS-52, IUB-13, MM-58 and Leader-1and. Non-Bt varieties are: CYTO-124 and NIAB-2008. The decisions were taken at the 46th PSC meeting, chaired by Agriculture Minister Dr Farrukh Javed at the Agriculture House, Lahore. Javed congratulated the relevant scientists for creating the new cotton varieties. “Agriculture scientists should take steps to produce high-yield varieties of other crops as well,” he said. He said that climate change was also an important issue. “The fruit of scientists’ research must reach farmers,” the minister said.Agriculture Secretary Muhammad Mehmood, PSC Secretary Khaqan Babar, Agriculture Research Director General Dr Abid Mehmood, Central Cotton Research Institute Multan Director Dr Sajid Hassan Shah, Cotton Research Institute Faisalabad Director Dr Sagher Ahmad and Agricultural Information Punjab Director Muhammad Rafiq Akhtar were also present.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2016.