The Sindh Seed Council (SSC) will consider 22 new seed varieties of different crops, including 9 of cotton for general cultivation, to enhance per acre production of major cash crop, it is learnt. The SSC is scheduled to meet on Wednesday (tomorrow) to be chaired by provincial agriculture minister where new varieties would be considered for approval. After getting approval from the SSC, Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department would issue certificates and new varieties would be made available for general cultivation.
Official sources revealed that there are 62 cotton seed varieties in the country approved for general cultivation, while with the approval of 9 new varieties, the number would be brought to a total of 71 cotton seed varieties. Other seed varieties to be considered in the meeting include wheat (5), sugarcane (3), mango (2), lentil (1) and okra (1).
The new cotton seed varieties included: Tarzan-1(Bt cotton), Leader-3 (Bt cotton) CRIS-533 (Bt cotton), CRIS-510 (Bt cotton), TH-21/09 (Bt cotton), cris-508 (Bt cotton) and Th-120 (non-Bt cotton). The sugarcane included Thatta-2109, Thatta-326, NIA-2012, wheat seed included Sindhu, SKD-II, TJ-2016, and others included Langra (mango), Sindhri (mango), Rani (okra) and NIA-sahara-2013 (lentil). The Punjab Seed Council (PSC) last week approved eight new seed varieties of cotton to enhance per acre production.
The country faces about 60 percent shortage of certified seed every year, which hits cotton production negatively, said an official, adding that there is a dire need for introducing new varieties of BT and non-BT cotton seed, as unregistered and uncertified seed is grown by the farmers.
However, sources revealed that the country is yet to develop cotton seed, which is pink bollworm and whitefly resistant and remains a major challenge, hitting the cotton production.
Cotton Commissioner Dr Khalid Abdullah told Business Recorder that some varieties like BT-CIM 602 and 598 resist pests' attacks to a great extent; hence, they can produce 55-60 mounds per acre. He further said that only 1-2 percent pests are dangerous for crop; however, with the pesticide spray, good insects are also killed. The new varieties have characteristics in accordance with the local environment and these would further boost the cotton production in the country, said Abdullah. He said that cotton seed varieties have the resistance ability to absorb high temperature, low water and resistance against the attacks of cotton leaf curl virus (CLVC) in the crop. The cotton seed varieties would enhance the productivity with minimum use of inputs and would be environment friendly, he added.