Double Cotton Yield Planned in Punjab

LAHORE, Feb 23: Punjab plans to double its cotton production from eight million bales to 16 million bales by 2015 by ensuring best biotech seeds to farmers and better extension services, says adviser to chief minister Zulfiqar Khosa.

Speaking at the 5th meeting of the Asian Research and Development Network, Khosa said the government paved the way for biotech seeds by enacting bio safety laws. They led to the approval of eight varieties of local BT cotton. Punjab is negotiating with Monsanto for the latest biotech seed varieties.

The three-day international conference of research scientists has been organised by the government of Punjab, International Cotton Advisory Committee and CABI. More than 50 delegates from 15 countries are participating in the conference.

Head of ICAC research wing Dr Muhammad Rafiq said in his address that unusual increase in global cotton rates this year rattled experts. The price was expected to increase further. Unfortunately, the cotton crop needed use of more insecticides than other crops. This high use, however, had been reduced by pest-resistant BT varieties. Global pesticide use on cotton dropped by 26 per cent in past one decade. On the contrary, it increased in Pakistan.

He said this year 62 per cent of all cotton cultivated in the world was from BT cotton seeds. “We can do away with insecticides by developing the required technology. The pest attack has been rising, which can be controlled by developing fertiliser and water efficient and pest resistance varieties,” he said.Provincial Agriculture Secretary Arif Nadeem said it was unfortunate that “uncertified BT cotton seeds infiltrated our farms and devastated farmers. With the approval of tested varieties, the extension department would be able to advise farmers on use of each of the eight approved varieties.”

Pointing to the potential of production, he said currently the country was losing two million bales annually to curl leave virus, two million bales to attack by other insects and one million bales to water shortage. With the introduction of pest and virus resistant varieties, most of the damage could be averted.

Chairman of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Gohar Ejaz said the cotton production had declined from 700kg per hectare in 1992 to 560kg per hectare this year, while China increased its cotton productivity from 700kg per hectare a decade ago to 1,200kg now. India reached the same productivity level as that of Pakistan from 300kg per hectare in 2004.

CEBI Director Dr Julie said 45 per cent of cotton in Pakistan was cultivated by farmers having less than five acres of land. Management of primary pest and diseases increased the incidence of secondary pests that needed attention of cotton scientists.