Minister stresses need for resilient cotton varieties

MULTAN:

Punjab Minister for Agriculture Hussain Jahania Gardezi on Sunday inaugurated the new building of Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) established for research on cotton and termed the project a game-changer for the growers of the region.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, he said the new CCRI building equipped with modern facilities was a great gift by the Punjab government and would be helpful for the discovery of latest varieties of cotton seed. He said it was the need of the hour to introduce such cotton seed varieties compatible with environmental changes and having capacity against insects and diseases.

It would be helpful to enhance per acre cotton production and strengthening the country’s economy.

The Vice Chancellor of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif University of Agriculture (MNSUA), Dr. Asif Ali, said that research for discovery of new varieties was underway in collaboration with the CCRI. The Chief Scientist of the CCRI, Dr. Saghir Ahmad, said the total cost of the project was Rs331 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 31^st, 2022.