Pakistan is losing over 9 million bales worth billions of rupees every year due to Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) besides lack of quality seed, water scarcity/distribution and weeds.
The country has the potential to produce over 20 million bales, however, due to CLCV, lack of quality seed, water scarcity/distribution and weeds; cotton production in the country has reduced to around 10 million bales.
This was revealed by the government officials as well as experts while addressing the 75th Plenary Meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) here on Wednesday. The event was organized by the Ministry of Textile Industry which is being attended by around 400 delegates from 30 members' states.
Cotton Commissioner Dr Khalid Abdullah said Pakistan was producing average 700-750 kg cotton per hectare which was low as compared to the production of the regional countries. However, it is better as compared to around 500 kg per hectare in India.
He further said that some areas in Sindh province were producing average 1000 kg per hectare, which indicates that local crop has potential to achieve the highest crop.
Cotton Commissioner further said Pakistan has potential to produce 20 million bales per annum, however, due to different diseases/pests, water scarcity and lack of quality seed, the country is yet to achieve the desired results.
Dr Shahid Mansoor Director National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad said that CLCV, mealy bugs causes 3 million bales, lack of quality seed and high input cost - 3 million bales, water (scarcity/distribution-one million bales, weeds, bollworms, heat stress and other sucking pests cause 2 million bales every year.
Dr Venkatesh N Kulkarni, Vice President (R and D), JK Agri- Genetics Ltd India while giving presentation on "Bt Cotton and Pest Scenario in India" said that hybrid's susceptibility due to high-pressure of whiteflies, hairy or bushy genotypes, late sowing, high nitrogenous fertilisers, inadequate phosphorus and potassium in the soil, indiscriminate use of pyrethroids, acephate, fipronil and mixtures and whitefly resistance to insecticides cause out-break of whitefly. Kulkarni said that the out-break causes about 37 - 62 percent (average 45 percent) yield losses, 5 to 12 repeated insecticidal applications, psychological stress, environmental pollution, economic losses and social unrest.
The experts stressed the need for using efficiently all the agriculture inputs including water, fertilisers and other pesticides to enhance productivity. They said that flood irrigation for cotton crop was reducing the ground water level and available water resources were facing immense pressure due to increasing population across the glob.
Talking to media persons, Cotton Commissioner Dr Khalid Abdullah said that the conference would the pave way for promotion of cotton sector in the country, which has been facing challenges in the country.
Renowned agriculture experts, Dr Abid Ayub and Dr Naveed also highlighted the importance of the conference, saying that it would help Pakistani scientists to promote quality cotton production in the country.
The experts participating in the event shared the outbreak of cotton diseases including different pests' attacks on the crop. The experts shared their experiences for controlling such attacks, adding that it would be incorporated in policy making to control any outbreak in future.
Experts further recommended that cultivating insect resistant cotton crop varieties to minimise the pest attack on the cash crop for production of quality crops. This strategy would not only help boost quality crop production but also help enhance farm income. They were of the view that the excessive use of pesticides should be avoided which is creating environmental hazards.
During the Wednesday's session, the participants recommended to adopt the theme for next year's (2017) ICAC meeting" as "Opportunities and Challenges in Technology Transfer."
In total three topics were discussed for next year's meeting including "Future of Biotech Cotton", "Opportunities and Challenges for Technology Transfer" and "Reducing the Containment of Cotton."
However, with the majority's opinion, the representatives selected the technology transfer topic for the purpose with the arguments that it would help transfer of technology and lead to promote cotton output by small growers.