LAHORE: Punjab Agriculture Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahoo has directed divisional directors of the department to compile cotton production records so that a comprehensive strategy can be formulated for the upcoming crop in the light of the data.

The direction came in a meeting held to review the current cotton crop situation at MNS Agricultural University, Multan.

He also directed that technical guidance should be given to the growers for clean picking of cotton so that they could get better compensation for their produce.

He said that currently the crop is going through a critical phase, therefore, all the authorities should take measures for surveillance, monitoring and pest control of cotton on a priority basis to ensure achieving the cotton production target.

The secretary was told that while cotton picking is under way across the province guidance is being provided to farmers on cotton irrigation, nutrition and pest management in the month of September.

Whitefly attack has been observed in some areas due to hot weather, he was informed, and extension and pest warning teams are spraying agricultural poisons with advanced chemistry.

South Punjab Agriculture Secretary Saqib Ali Attil, MNS Agriculture University Vice Chancellor Dr Asif Ali, Director General Agriculture Extension Dr Ishtiaq Hassan, Director General Agriculture Pest Warning Rana Faqir Ahmed, Director Agricultural Information Rai Mudassar Abbas and others attended the meeting.

Published in Dawn, September 11th, 2023