Govt sets targets for BT cotton, seasonal cultivation

Farmers offer solutions for improving production, tackling challenges

LODHRAN:

The Punjab government has unveiled plans to cultivate cotton across 272,640 acres, as disclosed in a recent meeting presided over by Additional Deputy Commissioner Revenue Syeda Amina Maududi.

Convened by the Cotton Crop Management and Monitoring Committee 2024, the gathering at the Deputy Commissioner Office scrutinized strategies to maximise cotton cultivation, enhance production, and educate farmers on modern agricultural practices.

Addressing the assembly, Acting Deputy Commissioner Maududi emphasised the pivotal role of cotton as a cash crop, asserting it as a national duty to cultivate it extensively.

She stressed the importance of field officers from the Department of Agriculture Extension providing hands-on guidance to farmers, landowners, and staff to improve cotton cultivation and yield.

Furthermore, Maududi advocated for comprehensive training programmes for farmers, focusing on field preparation, proper seed selection, timely fertiliser application, and water management.

She underscored the significance of raising awareness about pesticide usage to safeguard crops against harmful insects.

Deputy Director of Agriculture Extension, Muhammad Shafiq, outlined the government's targets, with 61,580 acres earmarked for BT cotton and 211,060 acres for seasonal cotton cultivation.

He highlighted the active engagement of field staff in promoting cotton cultivation, providing essential information on modern agricultural techniques and resources.

The meeting concluded with cotton farmers and landlords offering recommendations for ensuring timely water supply, addressing fertiliser shortages, and setting appropriate cotton prices, underscoring a collective effort towards achieving better cotton production in Lodhran district.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 7^th, 2024.