Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mir Murtaza Jatoi said on Sunday that the provincial government has allocated Rs 591 million for development of cotton crop in the province, as the development of textile industry of the country depends on this crop.
In addition to that, the government has earmarked Rs 227 million for agriculture research, he said while speaking at a ceremony on the occasion of Textile Asia 2006 at Karachi Expo Center.
Advisor told the participants that provincial government has set a target of 3.20 million bales with cultivation of cotton over 640, 000 hectares of land during Kharif. " We are focussing on producing contamination-free cotton taking special measures from sowing to picking and ginning. This would also earn better premium to the growers," he added.
Murtaza Jatoi said that he has directed the department to launch 'Grow More Cotton' drive so that the production target could be achieved.
He said further that keeping in view the shortage of water, the government has planned to provide the growers with sprinkle and drip system at discounted rates for which Rs 60 million have been set aside. "The growers would get this system at 80 percent discount," he added.
Later, the advisor visited various stalls and praised holding of such exhibitions that would introduce new technologies and explore new markets for the cotton products.