HYDERABAD, July 30: The Sindh agriculture research and extension department has directed its field staff to guide farmers in their areas to protect their crops exposed to rain and cloudy season.

In a circular, the director-general of the department, Malik Mohammad Akram, instructed EDOs, agriculture, to mobilize agriculture officers and field assistants and guide farmers to drain out excess rainwater from their fields and undertake pest scouting.

Mr Akram said farmers should also be educated on the application of appropriate pesticides at suitable timings after rains were over and fields got dry. But he said indiscriminate use of pesticides should be discouraged.

He said the cloudy season was likely to breed pests, particularly in cotton crop.