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| July 4, 2005 | Monday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 26, 1426 |
Strategy devised to enhance cotton production
ISLAMABAD, July 3: The government has devised a new strategy to realize the yield potential of cotton varieties, improve per hectare yield and enhance cotton production. The policy envisages a well-coordinated and collaborated approach pursuance to attain the required goals, official sources told this agency on Sunday.
The government agencies have been directed to help farmers overcome their problems and facilitate them in their efforts to increase production.
The winter rains during the season has helped recharge the ground water reservoirs and improve water level of Tarbela and Mangla reservoirs.
The sources said water availability during early Kharif 2005 was better than last year due to good rains and heavy snowfall on mountains. The cotton seed requirement for Kharif 2005 were estimated at 64,200 metric tons of which 14,871 metric tons (23.2 per cent) were produced by that date.
Under the strategy, both public and private sector agencies would be pursued to arrange adequate supply of certified cotton seeds. The private sector is being encouraged to play a greater role by expanding their activities in all the four provinces.
The sources said the performance of Foundation Seed Cell of PSG at Khanewal had been commendable whereas the Foundation Seed Cell of the SSC needed activation and strengthening.
For the private sector, seed agencies may be given some incentives like land on long lease or credit line to produce required quantities of cotton seed.
The institutions like CCRI Multan, NIBGE Faisalabad and CEMB Lahore have been asked to develop cotton varieties through genetic engineering.
The federal and provincial authorities are liable to keep close watch on timely availability of necessary fertilizers at all times during the cotton crop growth and development.
Besides, fertilizer prices will also be monitored closely to safeguard the interest of the growing community.
The government has now placed 128 pesticides on the generic list to provide opportunities to the farmers to have a wider range for selecting economical and effective pesticides.
The Federal Plant Protection Department has been directed to make arrangements with the private sector to ensure adequate and timely availability of all the insect pests, specific pesticides throughout the cotton crop growth and development period.
The provincial government would be required to make necessary arrangements for constant and close monitoring of the insect pest situation and the availability and management of pesticides throughout the season in all the cotton growing areas.
The federal and provincial agencies concerned are required to take necessary measures to overcome the problem of adulterated and ineffective pesticides’ sale through collection and inspection of the pesticides samples.
The pesticides companies would be encouraged to develop their own network of outlets and to cater to the needs of the large number of small land holders and the sale of chemicals in small packing would be encouraged.—APP
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