The federal government has devised a strategy to achieve the set target of the cotton production of 20.70 million bales by 2015. In this regard it has planned to take different measures.
The government besides other steps is mulling to impose ban on the cotton sowing before April 15 in order to check the attack of white fly and mealy bug, officially learnt this here on Monday.
The government has chalked out a comprehensive strategy to increase the cotton production by 5 percent annually, thus setting the target of cotton production to 20.70 million bales by 2015 covering the 3.32 million hectares sowing area.
The steps will be taken to increase per hectare yield of the cotton production to 1,060 kilograms. According to the observations made by Agriculture ministry, white fly attacks the cotton crop that is sown before April 15. The ministry has recommended imposing ban on the off-season cotton sowing.
The use of parathyroid on spring crops will also be discouraged to control white fly. The government will also take steps to make timely destruction of residues of spring crops and yellow traps will be installed for monitoring and control of white fly.
According to the strategy, Bt cotton and hybrids seeds would be introduced to increase per hector yield. Two companies, NIBGE and CEMB have incorporated Bt gene in approved varieties and approval of local Bt cotton varieties is in process. As cotton hybrid 151-A had already been approved by Punjab Seed Council (PSC) and the government will also invite the multinational companies to bring modern technology to introduce hybrid seeds of the cotton to increase yield.
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