August 31, 2003	Sunday	Rajab 2, 1424

LAHORE, Aug 30: Heavy widespread rains covering almost the entire cotton belt of Punjab in the last three days may have dimmed prospects of a bumper crop recently predicted by the Ministry of Agriculture.

This is the second visit of inclement weather to the Punjab’s cotton land within a short period. Experts say that at this stage when the process of boll formation has started, rains could only have a negative impact on the crop.

It is, however, not a hopeless case because firstly the crop sown with bed plantation method is reported to have escaped serious damage and secondly, although rains were both untimely and heavy for the standing crop, the plants had attained sufficient strength to withstand it.

But the rains have emphasized the need for more careful handling of the crop from now on because dampness and oppressive conditions suit the breeding of pests. The crop has been exposed to the danger of pests by the weather.

Spotted bollworm has infested the crop at many points, according to a spokesman of the Punjab’s Department of Agriculture. Random checks have informed of these pests in Rahimyar Khan, Multan, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Faisalabad, he said but added that the damage could be controlled by proper pesticide treatment. Increase in Jassid population had been controlled, he said.

He conceded that humidity had increased and that condition suited multiplication of pests but assured that Extension and Plant Protection staff was on the move and available to help and guide farmers.

This means an additional expense for the farming community because the crop would require more sprays. However, the standing crop is considered to have reasonably good chances of survival after rains on Tuesday but it could be seriously undermined if weather persists on a similar streak.

This is, however, not the case all over. The damage to crop has been considerable at some points. Haji Mohammad Arshad, a progressive farmer of Khanpur, told Dawn that his fields were flooded and “50 per cent of the crop was likely to have been damaged”.

According to the Met Office, Bahawalnagar had received 22 mm and Rahimyar Khan 19 mm rain. Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Dera Ghazi Khan were fortunate to have escaped relatively less rains.