950829

AHSAN*NINTH

Cotton crop on

2.5 lakh acres

damaged in Punjab

LAHORE: Cotton crop has been damaged on an area of 2.15 lakh acres in Punjab with totally damaged on 1.54 lakh.

This was reported in a meeting of Punjab Cotton Crop Committee held at Bahawalpur. According to the finding of the report, more affected areas were in Multan, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar, Khanewal and Jhang. Apprehension was expressed that due to humid condition created by rains, insect pests might flare up on cotton crop.

The report also mentioned the present status of leaf curl virus on cotton. The disease has been observed on a total area of 9,408 acres in major cotton growing districts of Punjab. However, the redeeming feature was that the intensity of leaf curl virus was mild and plant growth was not adversely affected.

The Cotton Crop Committee urged cotton growers to remain vigilant as sucking pests as well as bollworm attack was on the increase and if appropriate plant protection measures were not taken these pests might damage the cotton crop. However, it was emphasized that spray should only be done when the pest population reached the economic injury level which should be determined after proper pest scouting.

The committee expressed its concern over the sale of a sub-standard fertilizer under the name of Tiger. The Committee directed all the deputy directors of agriculture to inform one another if a fake or sub-standard farm chemical comes to their notice after proper analysis and testing.

The committee also released recommendations for cultivating alternate crops in the cotton area damaged by flood and rains. For this purpose, the committee has recommended sowing of "Anmol Raya" the seed of which is available with Punjab Agricultural Development and Supply Corporation or Maize as fodder. Mung 92 variety could also be a good alternate crop and could give a high yield. Sunflower could also be planted wherein wheat seed could be broadcast in the month of November as a relay crop.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. Mukhtar Ahmad Haleemi, Director General Agricultural (Research) and was attended by Directors of Cotton Research, Director Agriculture (Extension), Multan Zone, Director Agronomic Research Institute, Director Pest Warning and Quality Control, all deputy directors of Cotton Zone and the cotton experts working on various aspects on cotton.-APP