Punjab Agriculture Department (PAD) has advised the cotton growers to take all necessary steps for saving their crop from damages may be caused by the rains at this important juncture.
In an advisory issued here on Monday, a spokesman of the department said that the cotton production target during this season had been set at 10.5 million bales in the Punjab province.
The spokesman urged the growers to take timely steps for saving their crop from rain. He also said that picking should be stopped during the rain and restart after cotton become completely dry. He also advised to make exit for rain water in to some lower field from the cotton field as rain water, if stands more than 24 hours in the field, may cause negative impact on the production stopping the growth of the plant. He said that water should be shifted to some nearby sugarcane or fodder field. He also said that if exit of water is not possible then it should be transferred to one corner of cotton field by digging a ditch there.
The spokesman also advised the growers to consult the local agricultural experts of the department if crop sustain heavy loss because of rain.