December 3, 2002	Tuesday	Ramazan 27,1423

ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) has decided to launch a vigorous campaign against weeds in order to raise the output of next wheat crop by two to three million tons, according to an official source.

The weeds, experts say, cause 20 to 30 per cent loss by consuming the fertilizers and other nutrients. Traditionally, the farmers, mostly women, try to remove wheat weeds manually or mechanically. Experience has, however, shown that neither of the methods is very effective. Mechanical method is expensive and yet not very efficient, while it is the women who have to bear the brunt of uprooting unwanted weeds manually.

Unable to spare time and energy from other back-breaking multifarious chores performed by them at home and in the field, it is almost impossible for them to attain hundred per cent de-weeding of the wheat field, Federal Wheat Commissioner Dr Kadir Bux observed.

As advised by experts, MINFAL, at a meeting held here recently, decided to apply the chemical weedicides which were available in ample quantities, he said. Further measures would be taken to ensure that the private sector firms dealing with anti-weed chemicals, all of which have to be imported, have the requisite stocks.

Realizing that the country may be richer by two to three million tons of extra wheat as a result of removal of weeds, it was resolved that the campaign against weed would form an integral part of every project to be undertaken during the Rabi season for maximization of crops.

At a meeting with Agriculture authorities of the provincial governments convened by the former agriculture minister Khair Mohammad Junejo at MINFAL, it was noted that in Punjab, about 30 per cent of the wheat area was already covered under the weedicide regime. The challenge was to extend this programme to the remaining area of Punjab as well as to the provinces of Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan, Dr Bux observed.

One such project is the “integration of research and extension”. Under this project, the provincial governments were asked to gear up their extension services for raising productivity with special emphasis on weed control. Weed control is also to be pursued through Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme.

Provincial governments would also carry out campaigns in print and electronic media to make the farmers aware of the kinds of chemicals that can be effective against weeds. These campaigns would also inform them at what stage of the growth of crop and how these chemicals are to be applied, Dr Bux stated.