Fruitful efforts: Scientists develop heat-tolerant, high-yield cotton variety
Farmers blame widespread use of Bt cotton seeds for low production
High-yield cotton plants from all over the district were put on display. PHOTO: FILE
FAISALABAD:
Scientists of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad have successfully developed a new cotton variety ‘Punjab 896’ which is heat-tolerant and would prove instrumental in increasing cotton productivity.
UAF Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said this while speaking to a 14-member delegation of Asia Regional Course on breeding and other techniques for the development of heat-tolerant cotton on Thursday.
The delegation was led by Scientist Dr Manzoor Hussain. The UAF VC said, “UAF introduced the new variety of cotton ‘Punjab 896’ which is heat tolerant.”
He added, “UAF is conducting various researches on cotton to increase the yield. We are teaching modern methods to farmers that will enable them to get better production,” he said.
Iqrar Ahmad said the adaptive measures were necessary to sustain cotton productivity in the context of climate change. He pointed out, “Last year, less cotton was produced that caused loss worth billions of rupees to the national economy.”
Reasons of low yield
Heavy rainfall, high temperatures and major pest outbreaks have taken a heavy toll on cotton growing districts of Punjab in 2015. The Ministry of Textile Industry has expressed concern over the 28% drop in cotton production caused by climate change-induced phenomena.
Officials said the erratic weather proved lethal for the production of cotton, one of the country’s key cash crops. They said cotton production may continue to slide due to climate change.
As well as erratic weather, farmers blame the widespread use of Bt Cotton seeds for the low production. The genetically modified cotton variety has been used in Pakistan since 2010 and now makes up 88% of the crop area. People are now shifting to other crops and vegetables after being disheartened by the performance of this cash crop. Officials maintained about 15% less cotton was sown as compared to last year. The cotton growing area has shrunk to 2.46 million hectares in 2016-17 from 2.91 million hectares in 2015-16.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2016.
Scientists of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad have successfully developed a new cotton variety ‘Punjab 896’ which is heat-tolerant and would prove instrumental in increasing cotton productivity.
UAF Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said this while speaking to a 14-member delegation of Asia Regional Course on breeding and other techniques for the development of heat-tolerant cotton on Thursday.
The delegation was led by Scientist Dr Manzoor Hussain. The UAF VC said, “UAF introduced the new variety of cotton ‘Punjab 896’ which is heat tolerant.”
He added, “UAF is conducting various researches on cotton to increase the yield. We are teaching modern methods to farmers that will enable them to get better production,” he said.
Iqrar Ahmad said the adaptive measures were necessary to sustain cotton productivity in the context of climate change. He pointed out, “Last year, less cotton was produced that caused loss worth billions of rupees to the national economy.”
Reasons of low yield
Heavy rainfall, high temperatures and major pest outbreaks have taken a heavy toll on cotton growing districts of Punjab in 2015. The Ministry of Textile Industry has expressed concern over the 28% drop in cotton production caused by climate change-induced phenomena.
Officials said the erratic weather proved lethal for the production of cotton, one of the country’s key cash crops. They said cotton production may continue to slide due to climate change.
As well as erratic weather, farmers blame the widespread use of Bt Cotton seeds for the low production. The genetically modified cotton variety has been used in Pakistan since 2010 and now makes up 88% of the crop area. People are now shifting to other crops and vegetables after being disheartened by the performance of this cash crop. Officials maintained about 15% less cotton was sown as compared to last year. The cotton growing area has shrunk to 2.46 million hectares in 2016-17 from 2.91 million hectares in 2015-16.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2016.