LAHORE, May 4: Four more districts have been included in the cotton growing zone in the Punjab, says agriculture minister Arshad Khan Lodhi.

Talking to delegations of growers here on Sunday, the minister said Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal and Pakpattan had been included in the zone, and farmers were being persuaded to grow it on the maximum area.

He said only six varieties of cotton which were cotton leaf curl virus-resistant had been allowed this season. This season cotton would be sown on an area of 5.7 million acres. The farmers in Vehari, Burewala, Chichawatni, Arifwala and Mian Channu would sow it before May 15.

He said the task force concerned had been activated to control the sale of spurious and adulterated pesticides and fertilizers.

The minister said all wings of the agriculture department had been directed to work in liaison with farmers right from the beginning of the cotton season.— Staff Reporter