A cotton botanist has advised farmers to ensure picking only clean cotton as contamination reduces price fetched in the international market.
“Pakistan has been ranked third in the list of countries facing cotton contamination problem, which is causing an annual loss of Rs10 billion to national economy,” said Punjab Agriculture Department Media Liaison Unit’s Dr Sageer.
He said farmers should begin picking after 10 in the morning when dewdrops dry up from the boll and 40-50 percent of bolls are fully ripe and open. Pre-mature picking yields low quality fibre with lesser strength that resultantly attracts lower price.
He also advised that picking should begin from bottom to top to avoid attachment of contamination to fibre in the bolls. Cotton cloth should be utilised to keep cotton flowers from moisture. After picking, it must be placed at a high, clean and dry place.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2014.
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