Punjab Agriculture Minister Arshad Khan Lodhi has advised cotton farmers to root out saplings infected by mealy bug to protect their crops. He told a delegation of cotton growers from various districts of Sahiwal here on Friday, (August 17) that farmers must examine their cotton crops daily to deal with the bug attack.
He also cautioned them against using pesticides injurious to health. The minister also told the delegation that his government had told pesticides makers to make up the deficiency for pesticides and support the Agriculture Department to check the sale of spurious drugs.
He then praised the performance of the pest warning staff headed by Agriculture Director General Dr Ejaz Pervaiz, saying the latter was an asset for the department.
Lodhi also disclosed that the government would hold a meeting to discuss the availability of pesticides and check the spurious drugs soon. Companies importing pesticides, farmers' representatives and Agriculture Department officers would also take part in the meeting, he added.