'CLC virus badly affecting cotton production'

Cotton Leaf Curl Virus is badly affecting the cotton production that is considered the backbone of our economy. It is imperative to boost up efforts to fight the virus. This was stated by experts at inauguration of two-day eight national conference of Pakistan Phytopathological Society at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Old Senate Hall on Monday.
The session was presided over by UAF Vice Chancellor, Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan while the Faculty of Agriculture Dean, Professor Dr Mauhmmad Ashfaq was the guest of honour on the occasion. Talking about the production of various crops, Professor Dr Iqrar said that in Pakistan, the disease was first observed near the cotton-belt of Multan on a few cotton plants in 1967.
Since the disease was of minor importance, it did not attract serious attention although it was noticed subsequently. Yet in 1992-93 it appeared in epidemic form, which decreased cotton yield to 9.05 million bales and further decreased it to 8.04 million bales during 1993-94.
He said various diseases played havoc with the production of citrus, guava mangoes. He expressed his concerns over the 'Shesham dieback', which is affecting the tree badly. He stressed the need to take up the matter that was in vital interest of the country. He said that the wheat rust broke out in 1995 caused to 40 percent of crop loss in the country. He said that viruses including cotton leaf curl and citrus bent-leaf also became responsible for the devastation of the crops.
Talking about the post-harvest losses, he said that the country was losing 20 to 40 percent of the crops in the process that needs attention of the farming community. He said that various plant diseases were breaking out because of climate changes and urged to expedite the pace of the work to avert the crisis. He said the responsibility lies on the shoulder of scientists to develop state-of-the-state researches in order to fight plant diseases.
PPS President, Dr Mumtaz Hussain said that the society has the tradition of organising national conference on the pathology in a bid to solve the issue of the farming community. He said that the society was set up in 1987 to serve the sector with the commitment to solve the problems of farmers. He said that the scientists of the society remain busy in assessing the diseases of the various crops for increasing the agricultural production.
Sardar Muhammad Mughal from the Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi suggested setting plant disease clinics that will help overcome the diseases. He also said that increased urbanisation was also aggregating the plant pathology problems across the country. He also said that the lack of manpower was hindering the process to fight viruses. Now, we have to produce more experts in the field.