DERA GHAZI KHAN: Farmers of the historical cotton belt of trans-Indus districts of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur have reduced the cotton sowing area because of unchecked cultivation of non-resistant cotton seeds which has failed to reach the target of per acre yield.

More and more farmers are turning towards the sowing area of rice, sources have told Dawn.

Agriculturist Imran tells Dawn that in ancient times, there used to be small trees of cotton in the Indus valley and with the passage of time, the cotton tree evolved into a seasonal plant by researchers. Local cotton seeds used to be pest-resistant but its production per acre yield was low, he added. In the 60s, research-based cotton seeds, imported from America were, sown in the cotton belt of Pakistan which began an era of the bumper crop to farmers.

In 1978, seeds of NAYAB 78 and later MNH 96 were introduced and these seeds had good per acre production of yield but the lack of research left a rut in the sector.

In the first decade of the 2000s, BT cotton was introduced in the region but it could not meet the required targets.

Agriculturist Imran says cottonseed needs improvement in its resistance against pestand sects and the task can be met by persistent research. BT cotton has resistance against chewing sects but fails to stop the march of sects and pests who eat or devour the plant.

He maintained that in these unfavorable circumstances ranging from the sale of poor quality seeds to costly inputs and abrupt change in climate had forced the growers to give up sowing of cotton.

Crop Statistical Officer Husain Jatoi told Dawn growers of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur cultivated cotton on 462,000 acres against 588,000 acres of the previous year.

Ginner Hussain Abbas told Dawn that 2.921 million bales had been produced this year till October 18 in the country against 3.603 million bales of the previous year. It is an alarming situation for growers, ginners, and textile millers. There is a need for the development of new indigenous seed varieties to improve resistance against pests and sects.

Farmers demanded seed be provided to growers with the authentication of seed certification department as at present as the seed is being provided without certification. There should be strict legislation against the provision of non-certified and unchecked seed and pesticides to growers. Diversity in the cultivation of different crops besides growing of cotton can establish a sustainable rural economy as the concept of a belt of the specific crops has been an old idea.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2020