Sindh Seed Council has approved six new varieties of wheat, cotton and sugarcane for mass cultivation in the province. The meeting, presided over by Sindh Minister for Food and Agriculture and attended by Dr Badar of PCCC, Qadir Bux Baloch, Wheat Commissioner, Pakistan, Shamsuddin Legari and other experts, discussed in detail the performance of these varieties during field trials.
The wheat varieties approved include SD-1200/14,TD-1 and Marvi; sugarcane varieties include Thatta-10 and NIA-2004, while cotton variety approved was Criss-467.
The Council also gave conditional approval to rice varieties Super Basmati and KK-282 for a period of one year.
The Council also discussed vegetables crops, specially potato, and emphasised the need for extensive research on vegetables and identification of their varieties.
The Council took notice of attack of 'Bunchy top' virus on banana crop in the province. It was informed that banana is a vegetable propagated fruit crop cultivated over an area of 26000 hectares with an annual production of 93000 tons. Over 85 5 percent of total area under banana cultivation in Sindh is mainly on left bank of River Indus.
Bunchy Top Virus spreads epidemically and covers more than 60 percent area within a short time with the result the production would be decline by 90 percent in some areas. The Council was informed that the virus could not be eliminated through application of chemicals and could only be controlled by introducing tissue culture technology.
The minister directed that scientists and experts, besides introducing most modern technology to combat the menace, should make all-out efforts to evolve a new variety. He said that the meeting of Seed Council should be held twice a year. He suggested separate meeting with regard to crop varieties with EPB and RECD.
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