Since 1947, distribution of seed was one of the functions of the Agriculture Extension Department. On the recommendation of the FAO, and with the financial and technical assistance from the World Bank
, the Pakistan Seed Industry Project was initiated in 1975.
Two provincial seed corporations, the Punjab Seed Corporation (PSC) and the Sindh Seed Corporation (SSC), were set up in 1976,to implement the project. In order to undertake its various responsibilities, the SSC acquired hundreds of acres of land at Ghotki, Kot Diji, Ruk, Selharga etc., in the upper Sindh region. Similarly, the Punjab Seed Corporation acquired 6,500 acres of land in Khanewal.
The first step in seed production is the evolution of new varieties and the production of pre-basic seed at research institutes followed by the production of basic seed in respective seed corporations.
So far development, maintenance and evolution of cotton varieties in the country is concerned, the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee is responsible for all this. However, the provinces of Sindh and Punjab have their own breeding programmes.
Besides, the Atomic Energy Agriculture Research Centre, Tandojam (Sindh) and the Nuclear Institute of Agriculture and Biology (NIAB) Faisalabad are also contributing in the evolution and development of cotton varieties in Pakistan.
In Sindh, which accounts for about 20 per cent of cotton production in the country, a number of improved varieties were developed and released for general cultivation. Among the varieties were the NT, Qalandry, Sarmast, K-68/69, Rehmani and Reshmi.
In the recent past many other varieties of cotton have also been developed in Sindh by the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee, Sakrand and other research institutes located in Sindh.
All these varieties developed in Sindh were high yielding, as claimed, and suitable for different cotton growing belts of lower and upper Sindh. But unfortunately none of the varieties developed in Sindh were neither high yielding nor early maturing like Niab-78 of Punjab.
Since early harvest of Niab-78 enabled the growers of Sindh to undertake timely sowing of wheat crop, its acreage increased very rapidly both in lower and upper Sindh. Popularity of Niab-78 could be gauged from the fact that by the year 1988-89 this very pioneer variety occupied about 80 per cent area in Sindh.
But unfortunately Niab-78 fell victim of cotton leaf curl virus (CLCV) disease firstly in Punjab and then in Sindh, particularly in the upper Sindh. Punjab, however, managed this catastrophe through evolving the CLCV tolerant varieties like the CIM-443, the CIM-446, the CIM-448, etc., initially. But unfortunately not a single CLCV tolerant variety could be developed in Sindh.
However, having no alternatives the agriculture department of Sindh had to allow some CLCV tolerant varieties from Punjab. Taking advantage of this situation seed mafia, as well as some unscrupulous seed companies managed to bring many other unapproved cotton varieties of unknown pedigree and sold them as the CLCV resistant varieties in the local market of Sindh.
Today the situation is that the local market of Sindh is flooded with the cotton varieties whose character is not known to the growers of Sindh. Among these varieties some are highly susceptible to army worm, some to pink bollworm.
Some are bushy, some straight without branching. Field survey during kharif 2003 indicated that the cultivation of non-bushy variety like the CIM-446 and other not known to the growers when grown in Katcho Area of Khairpur failed to give adequate yield because in this area cotton seed is eaten away by field cricket while in the seed bed.
It was also observed that in the cricket prone area the SLS-1 variety which is a tall and bushy variety proved highly successful. Here it would be proper to mention that like Niab-78 the SLS-1 is also susceptible to the CLCV.
But in a situation when there are no trees in the field or in the vicinity it escapes the CLCV attack. Similarly, the CIM-109 when grown in the desert belt of upper sindh, escaped the CLCV attack. This is the reason that despite being susceptible to the CLCV disease, the CIM-109 still is the dominant variety of upper Sindh desert belt.
Suggestion: In view of the non-availability of cotton seed developed in Sindh, since almost 99 per cent growers of Sindh depend on seed of cotton varieties developed in Punjab, it is warranted that the Agriculture Extension Department of Sindh should arrange screening of all those varieties of cotton which have been pumped into Sindh illegally by the seed mafia.
Screening only varieties suitable for the respective cotton growing belts viz desert belt, riverine belt and sugarcane belt, illegal rice growing belt and date palm belt should be given approval for its cultivation in Sindh.
The remaining unwanted varieties should be banned prior to the commencement of kharif 2004 season. However, it is also needed that necessary information about the varieties approved for cultivation in Sindh is also arranged to the growers through literature in the local languages.
