LAHORE; July 21: Punjab Agriculture Minister Arshad Lodhi has said the awareness created among farmers about the harms of excessive pesticides spray on crops has proved useful.

He stated this at a departmental meeting on Friday held to review the present condition of cotton crop and its related issues.

Mr Lodhi said the farming community had realised that undue spray not only kills the insects but also destroy the useful and friendly creatures also. Pest Warning and Plant Protection director-general Dr Ejaz Pervez briefed the minister about the cotton crop and related issues.

Besides cotton growers, the minister said other farmers and owners of orchards and gardens should also be provided information and guidance so that they might be able to know the harming impacts of excessive spray.

The minister appreciated the working and achievements of Plant Protection Wing that made it possible that farmers should ensure reduced spray on their crops. He lauded the wing officials for ensuring considerable reduction in the use of pesticides.

With the reduction of spray on crops, he said, multiple benefits had been achieved, including saving friendly insects and pesticides residual that could affect human health. Similarly, economic burden on the farmers had also cut down to a reasonable level.