Former Speaker of National Assembly and a leader of PML-N Syed Fakhar Imam stressed upon the Federal as well as Provincial Governments to hold a National Conference to evolve a strategy to save the cotton from the ravages of pest attacks and diseases which may cause loss of billions of dollars.
In a press statement issued here today Syed Fakhar Imam said Agricultural Scientists, researchers, cotton growers, ginners, spinners, representatives of pest warning and chemical/pesticides/insecticides companies be invited to frame a policy to protect the cotton crop on permanent basis. Fakhar Imam said American Boll worm attacked the cotton crop in this zone and this crop is under severe threat. Since the introduction of BT cotton varieties a few years back, it was assumed that these varieties, on account of BT gene factor would be immune or resistant to attack of American Boll worm pest. In effect, for the past few years this has been the case as these BT varieties have shown resistance to American Boll worm pest. This is the first season of cotton growing that the seriousness of attack on the cotton is damaging the fruiting and flowering which may cause lowering the yield of the crop.
Syed Fakhar Imam warned that the size and scale of damage to cotton crop may be higher than fear if not checked immediately. He said it is appropriate to say that Pakistan's cotton production in 2012-13 was merely 13 million bales with Punjab's production being 9.5 million. He further said that 60 percent of Pakistan's total exports from cotton sector, cotton seed oil contribute 60-65 percent of locally produced edible oil.
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