September 08, 2007

New virus-resistant cotton seeds likely to evolve

NEW virus-resistant cotton seed varieties will be evolved within two to three years, with agricultural scientists conducting exhaustive in-depth research to achieve this objective.

This was stated by Muhammad Arshad, director, central cotton research institute (CCRI), while talking to the agency. He disclosed that any virus develops in to resistance with the passage of time, and citing an example said that first hepatitis A appeared, which transformed into B, then B into C and lately C into D.

Adding to the result of other researches and efforts our national production of the silver fibre rose to a record level of over 12 million bales.

“The existing generation of the CLCV is being studied vigorously at CCRI Multan and other research facilities, and it is hoped that resistant varieties will be evolved within the next two to three years,” said the cotton expert.

With the passage of time, successive cotton seed varieties becomes susceptible to the virus, which requires to be dealt with a fresh generation of cotton seed with strong characteristics to withstand the attack of the virus.

The director CCRI said the mealy bug is a new pest which is being controlled by spray of appropriate pesticides. The notion that the pest is indestructible is a misconception, adding that effective scouting of the crop and necessary pesticides at the early stage can arrest its spread. The cotton researcher warned that the current humid month of September is very critical for the cotton crop, as humidity is pest-friendly. Regular twice-weekly scouting and spray of efficacious pesticides is the sure cure, he observed.

Dr Ijaz Pervez, DG Pest Warning and Quality Control of pesticides, Punjab, disclosed that cotton virus has been noticed in the districts however, it is still mild and poses no big threat to the national production whose target has been set at 14.14 million bales.

He said the crop is susceptible to the virus if plants do not get adequate nutrition, and this weakens their immunity system. Timely irrigation, administration of requisite fertilisers and removal of weeds can go a long way to control this menace.—APP
 

Mobile internet service introduced

A MOBILE dedicated internet service ‘Ovi’ has been introduced by an IT firm Nokia, said a statement issued. It said that Nokia will be providing its consumers with mobile dedicated internet service under the company’s new Internet services brand name ‘Ovi’. With the introduction of the new service, Nokia is expanding from focus on mobile devices to offering a range of Internet services, the statement said adding that as part of Ovi, Nokia Music Store and N-Gage, two services that make it easy for people to discover, try and buy music and games from a blockbuster range of artists and publishers, including exclusive content only available through Nokia.

Also under the Ovi umbrella is Nokia Maps, a navigation service that offers maps, city guides and more directly to compatible mobile devices. Nokia aims to bring more Internet based services to Ovi in the coming months. Ovi, meaning ‘door’ in Finnish, enables consumers to easily access their existing social network, communities and content, as well as acting as a gateway to Nokia services.—APP
 

Societal transformation ebbing away polarisation

THE ongoing development process in Balochistan was gradually transforming the society into service and development oriented society. Although ending the decades old backwardness and deprivation will take some time yet people have started enjoying fruits of development in certain areas.

A visible change can be seen with the education, health, water, communication, fishing, trade and other facilities reaching even to the remotest areas in the province.

This is also a good omen towards ending the polarisation and concentration of power with couple of people that had resulted in backwardness and alienation of the people from the mainstream.

Masses were forced to live a restricted life - a life aloof of the changing world, remained under developed and victim to abject poverty. Peasants, fishermen, traders, farmers and even shepherds were now getting aware how to get maximum benefits from their product.

Today a fisherman in Gwadar transport his fish to Karachi for better price, passengers enjoy better means of communications and the farmers foreseeing better crops once the dams projects are completed.

This transformation was gradually ebbing away the impact of feudalism and a few Nawabs and Sardars who always opposed this reformation process fearing that once people get aware of their rights and are developed, their states within the state would no more exist.

In two out of three Tahsils in Kohlu, the projects of electrification, roads, schools, hospitals and water supply were continuing unhindered as 50,000 Bijaranis, 17,000 Loharanis and 8000 Pashtuns living in this district are pro-government and were cooperating in the development activities.

Development forces are prospering, the anti-development forces were gradually diminishing and the society was transforming into a developmental society from the old subjugative one.

Days are not far off when every Balochistan citizen will have basic amenities at his doorstep and the era of backwardness will ultimately come to an end.— APP

Crackdown against turtle hunters

THE NWFP Wildlife department has continued crackdown against turtle hunters in the province and seized dried carcasses of the species in Dera Ismail Khan (D.I.Khan).

“We have seized around 50 kg of turtle body parts from professional hunters residing on the bank of Sindh river in D.I.Khan, informed DFO NWFP Wildlife D.I.Khan, Abdul Haleem Khan Marwat.

During the raid, a person namely Ejaz Hussain son of Mushtaq Hussain resident of Awan Town Lahore has been arrested and fined Rs. 15000 under Wildlife Act.

Abdul Haleem said turtle hunting was on peak in D.I.Khan and people involved in this trade had links up to Lahore and Karachi where the animal is sold at a rate of around Rs. 3000 per kg.

However, soon after imposition of the ban on hunting of turtles, he added, the Wildlife office in D.I.Khan erected boards along bank of river Sindh for the information of hunters.

Similarly, he went on to say, a team of wildlife department hired a boat and reached to different remote areas along the bank for informing people about the decision.

It came into knowledge that there is a great number of people included in the ilicit fish and turtle hunting business.

However, he said, the hunters are now informed that hunting of turtle is banned in the province and violator would be fined and imprisoned.

DFO Wildlife D.I.Khan also informed that seized body parts of turtles would be incinerated.—APP