Coordinated efforts: Experts call for vitalising cotton crop

New cotton varieties will quickly become adaptable to climate change

FAISALABAD: Experts from different research institutions on Saturday said the economy of the country was greatly dependent on cotton crop which has been hit by a serious setback following the attack of pink bollworm and whitefly.



The experts expressed these views during a moot held at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. They claimed that a comprehensive strategy has been evolved to save cotton crop from diseases and new cotton varieties have been developed which they said would be more resilient to disease. The experts also said these new varieties would quickly become adaptable to climate change. They termed falling condition of cotton crops a serious challenge to meet the food security of the country as well as to save the growers for the losses.

“The whole economy revolves around cotton and if we become successful in providing quality seeds and ensure full plant population in the field, we will be harvesting a huge amount of cotton production without involving new technology and science,” UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said. He said Rs8 billion has been earmarked for cotton research and development in Kisaan Package of Rs100 billion.



Speaking on the occasion, Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB) CEO Dr Noorul Islam Khan said the stakeholders of public organisations intend to inject substantial funds for research work to eradicate pink bollworm and whitefly threat.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2017.