HYDERABAD: Hybrid seeds have badly affected production of chilli varieties, including indigenous ‘longi’ chilli in Sindh.

This was stated by experts at the ‘National Symposium on Chilli Diseases’ organised by the Sindh Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam, on Monday. The programme was attended by a large number of agricultural and research experts and other delegates from different institutes, universities, private firms and farmers.

SAU vice chancellor Dr Fateh Mari informed the participants that Sindh is producing 82pc of the country’s total chilli crop. He said climate change, drought and poor quality seeds reduced production of chillies in Sindh.

A research group consisting of growers and other stakeholders would be formed to tackle the issue of diseases in chillies and resolve it, he added.

Chillies Growers’ Association president Mian Muhammad Saleem said that hybrid seeds devastated Asia’s largest chilli market in Kunri. He suggested that seed and pesticide companies should put bar codes on their products to assess their quality. He also proposed setting up of a ‘chilli development board” to address the relevant issues.

Dr Manzoor Ali Abro, dean Faculty of Crop Protection said that there were currently 46 different diseases in chilli crop.

Prof Dr Abdul Mubeen Lodhi said that due to various reasons, there was a risk of reduction in the per acre yield and a decline in the quality of chilli, besides its under-cultivation area.

Dr Tariq Mukhtar and Prof Pir Mehar Ali Shah of the Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, said that farmers were not aware of attacks of various bacterial diseases on chilli crop, therefore, experts should manage the crop and deal with the disease.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2022