Govt plans to revitalise Punjab cotton production

Agriculture secretary says decline in cotton production has been gradual since 2015

MULTAN:

Caretaker Provincial Minister for Agriculture, Industry and Energy SM Tanveer has highlighted the crucial need to adopt modern technology and emulate the successful China-style model to increase cotton yield per acre.

Presiding over a meeting via video link at Circuit House, Multan, Tanveer emphasised the significance of innovative approaches in cotton production and growth strategy.

During the meeting, South Punjab Agriculture Secretary Saqib Ali provided a detailed briefing to Provincial Minister SM Tanveer, stating that the decline in cotton production in Punjab has been gradual since 2015-16, resulting in an average yield of only 15 maunds per acre.

The primary reasons cited for this decline were the absence of new cotton seed technology and the vulnerability of old technology seeds to pest attacks, particularly the pink bollworm, which has led to a 60% reduction in production over the past three years in the province.

Highlighting the success of China as the world's leading cotton producer, Saqib Ali pointed out that the adoption of new technology cotton seeds, predictive models of pest attacks using artificial intelligence and comprehensive research work have been instrumental in their remarkable yield.

Proposing a potential solution for Punjab, Saqib Ali stated that following the IPM (Integrated Pest Management) model, employing artificial intelligence, and adopting the China model can potentially yield over 8 million bales of cotton in the province.

Additionally, a project worth Rs3.82 billion was discussed with the minister, focusing on increasing cotton production.

Addressing the meeting, Provincial Minister SM Tanveer emphasised the importance of cotton as one of the most vital crops in the region. He stressed the need for collaboration between agricultural scientists, researchers, and academia with international research institutions to drive advancements in cotton production.

SM Tanveer directed the formation of a committee, headed by MNS Vice Chancellor, to finalize a comprehensive plan for boosting cotton production in the next two weeks.

The committee is tasked with carrying out a technical review and presenting the PC1 proposal in this regard.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2023.