Islamabad
Central Cotton Research Institute had trained about 300 cotton growers on use of best crop management practices for achieving higher per-acre output during the coming season.
In this regard, Central Cotton Research Institute in collaboration with Kashtkar Foundation had organised a day long workshop, which was attended by a large number of farmers, scientists and exporters.
The theme of training workshop was “ Revival of Cotton, Climate Change Position and Action Plan for the Eradication of Pinkbalworm,”.
The experts make deliberations on declining cotton crop, issues and challenges faced the cotton growers across crop producing areas in the country and suggested measures for the revival of major cash crop of the country for sustainable economic growth.
They urged the need for adopting scientific based, innovative techniques to avoid pest attacks to attain higher crop output, besides enhancing farm income.
Giving the details of the training workshop, Director Central Cotton Research Institute Dr Zahid told APP that local output of major crop was on declining and aim of the initiative was to take measures for the revival and restoration of cotton crop in the country.
He said that the farmers were trained on land preparations, use of fertilizers and pesticides, besides other innovative technologies to enhance per-acre crop production.
Besides, they were also apprised about the cotton varieties, their output potential and pest attacks including white fly and pink bollwarm on the crop, he said adding that they were trained to tackle with the situation to avoid crop losses.
Dr Zahid further informed that the scope of training workshops would be extended to other areas as virtual meetings during Covid-19 pandemic had been organized to tackle with the emerging challenges faced the cotton crop and to revive it.
The government was working on war footings to revive cotton production in the country and in this regard measures have been taken to overcome the issue of certified seed and eradication of pink bollwarm, he remarked.
The government, he said was determined to provide 100 percent certified, pest resistant and climate tolerant high yielding seed varieties to farmers during coming season.
In this regard, Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department has completed testing of 30,000 tons cotton seeds of of different varieties, he said adding that it would be provided to farmers for cultivation.—APP
