“Agricultural production can be increased with the adoption of latest pest management practices,” Dr Abdus Salam Khan, of the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), said on Thursday.
He was speaking at a seminar arranged by the Department of Entomology. Khan stressed the need to educate farmers about various plant diseases and precautionary measures against them. He said Pakistan was losing crops worth millions of rupees to various pests.
Entomology Department Chairman Jalal Arif said a plant diagnostics lab would be set up to facilitate farmers.
He said Integrated Pest Management (IPM) should be promoted on account of its demonstrated effectiveness.
Entomologist Anjum Sohail said that Pakistan’s agricultural production was lower than other countries partly because of improper pest management practices.
“In Pakistan, the cotton crop is attacked by about 150 types of insect pests,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 13th, 2013.
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