ISLAMABAD, April 14: The Senate Standing Committee on Food, Agriculture and Livestock has proposed a strict check on proliferation of unapproved and substandard varieties of cotton seeds in the market.

It also sought an end to the breeder-distributor nexus.

At a meeting of the committee here on Monday, presided over by its chairman Mohammad Amjad Abbas, it was stated that cotton, country’s premier export item, was facing immense challenges at the production stage, and it was because of this reason that it needed a preferential treatment by the government.

The committee noted with concern that high-yielding varieties, developed by Pakistani scientists, were not being utilised by a majority of farmers, either due to ignorance or their unavailability in cotton-growing areas.

Taking notice of growing global and regional competition in cotton, the committee observed that the ongoing agricultural research must benefit the farmer, the Minfal and its subsidiaries.

The provincial governments, it said, should focus on facilitating farmers; and priority should be given to their training, education and awareness.

The members demanded a campaign to educate farmers about the use of right kind of seed as well as balanced use of fertilisers and pesticides.

They urged the textile industry to change its behaviour and try to facilitate peasants.

“If farmers produce quality cotton, mill-owners should also offer a better price to them. Incentives should be given to farmers to produce quality cotton, which can fetch a better price locally and internationally.”

Otherwise, the committee warned that a sugar-like crisis could take over cotton production as well.

The committee called for an early adoption of redrafted ‘Cotton Control Act’ by the National Assembly, which, it said, would cover all issues relating to cotton and textile.

The committee directed the agriculture ministry and research organisations under its control to expedite efforts for fighting and addressing curl-leaf virus and mealy-bug in cotton and to ultimately meet the target of producing 20.70 million bales by 2015.

Earlier, the ministry officials briefed the committee on various cotton varieties developed and cultivated during the last 10 years, and their resistibility and productivity.

Minfal officials informed that an internationally renowned firm, Mansanto, was willing to provide quality cotton seeds to Pakistan for which a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed in two to three months.

The committee also took notice of reported inter-provincial and inter-district ban on movement of wheat and sought immediate lifting of curbs.

It also observed that there should be no forced procurement of wheat in any area. The senators demanded that the wheat support price must be announced not later than October every year.