Post Source: DailyTimes By Razi Syed (August 27, 2009)
KARACHI: The concern ministry and department should consider obtaining foreign assistance for the development of hybrid seeds and facilities of Research and Development (R&D) in cotton sector, Dr Neil Forrester, the Australian expert on synthetic insecticides, BT cotton and former director Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) Australia said Wednesday.
Talking to the members Board of Director of Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) at Karachi Cotton Exchange (KCE), he said during visit vast fields in Punjab, a vast cotton field in Multan division has been affected with mealy bug.
Due to use of fake seeds and use of pesticides and germicides the farmer is suffering, he added.
He said poor water-management besides absence of R&D facilities and non-coordination between government and real stakeholders of the sector has been affecting the lint production of the country.
He stressed for adopting modern agricultural practices to improve and upgrade the cropping standards in Pakistan.
He urged the need for improving diversity of cultivars, eco-friendly and cost-effective pest management practices, efficient supply system, commercialisation of variegated and alternative usage of crop produce. “Government will not be able to meet its lint target unless it provides copyrights to the foreign seed and hybrid companies in order to save crops from spurious seeds”, Dr Neil said. Punjab produces more than 70 percent of the total yield of Pakistan and around 90 percent of the total cultivation is BT cotton in Sindh while 50 percent is in Punjab. Multan division is the largest traditional cotton production area in the world, which produces approximately 700,000 bales during a crop season.
Chairman Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA), Rana Abdul Sattar said quality and the volume of the crop, especially the BT variety of cotton would not improve because until use of uncertified seeds prevails.
Pakistan will not able to achieve next cotton crop target in (2009-10) which is 12 million bales unless production of quality seeds, supply of quality inputs and water availability is not assured, he maintained.
A senior member KCA, Ghulam Rabbani said there was need of experts from multinational companies in the field in order to help and guide growers to produce quality seeds.
He said only two seed institutes, one in Sindh and the other in Punjab, cannot produce and cater to the supply of quality seed to the growers.
Due to lack of competency, the farmers would face financial crunch while country would likely import around 3 million bales in next crop season to meet the textile sector’s requirements.
The federal government revised the target to 12 million bales from 13.2 million cotton bales for the crop season 2009-10.
Posted by Web Development Pakistan on October 17, 2009 at 9:53 am
nice to know about it …..