Karachi, Pakistan
October 16, 2008
Source:
Daily Times via
Checkbiotech.org
By Razi Syed
The Pakistan Government will not be able to meet its lint target
unless it provides copyrights to the foreign seed and hybrid
companies in order to save crops from spurious seeds, Dr Neil
Forrester said Wednesday.
Talking to the Board of Director of Karachi Cotton Association
(KCA) at Karachi Cotton Exchange (KCE), the Australian expert on
synthetic insecticides, BT Cotton and former director Cotton
Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) Australia said that
during his visit to Punjab, he witnessed a vast cotton field in
Multan Division, which has been affected with mealy bug.
Dr Neil is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of Chief Minister
Punjab, Mian Shabaz Sharif, who is keen to give top priority to
the cotton crop as Punjab produces more than 70 percent of the
total yield of Pakistan.
Around 90 percent of the total cultivation is BT cotton in Sindh
while 50 percent is in Punjab. Multan division is the largest
traditional cotton production area in the world, which produces
approximately 700,000 bales during a crop season. He said the
related ministry and department should consider obtaining
foreign assistance for the development of hybrid seeds and
facilities of Research and Development (R&D) in this sector. Due
to use of fake seeds and use of pesticides and germicides on
cotton without expert opinion, the farmer is suffering.
He said poor water-management besides absence of R&D facilities
and non-coordination between government and real stakeholders of
the sector has been affecting the lint production of the
country. He stressed for adopting modern agricultural practices
to improve and upgrade the cropping standards in Pakistan.
He urged the need for improving diversity of cultivars,
eco-friendly and cost-effective pest management practices,
efficient supply system, commercialisation of variegated and
alternative usage of crop produce.
A senior member of Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA)
and president PCGA Sanghar cotton belt region, Rana Abdul Sattar
said quality and the volume of the crop, especially the BT
variety of cotton would not improve because until use of
uncertified seeds prevails. |
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