ISLAMABAD:
The Punjab Seed Company (PSC) will present licensed seed of six cotton varieties to farmers throughout the province for the continued early sowing marketing campaign.
Speaking to Wealth Pakistan, Shahid Qadir, Director of Punjab Seed Company, mentioned the varieties obtainable on the market are SS-32, SS-102, NIAB-878, NIAB-Kiran, NIAB-Sanib and NIAB-545. He mentioned the worth of licensed fuzzy seed of accredited varieties has been mounted at Rs3,700 per 10kg bag, whereas licensed delinted seed will probably be obtainable at Rs2,500 per 5kg bag. He added that the seed will probably be obtainable in any respect PSC gross sales centres and thru its authorised sellers to make sure clean and well timed provide to farmers.
The Punjab authorities has set a goal of bringing 0.7 million acres below early-sown cotton within the southern and central Punjab divisions of Multan, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Sargodha and DG Khan. Cotton cultivation will even be promoted within the Bahawalpur division below the normal sowing window, because the provincial authorities plans to develop Bahawalpur right into a devoted cotton valley.
Early sowing of cotton, which was discouraged in Punjab a couple of years in the past resulting from fears of pest assaults, has gained traction over the previous couple of years amid altering local weather patterns, consultants say. “There isn’t a doubt that early cultivation of cotton was counterproductive previously, however altering local weather circumstances have necessitated early sowing to attain higher crop yields,” mentioned Sajid Mehmood, Head of Know-how Switch on the Central Cotton Analysis Institute (CCRI), Multan.
He mentioned triple-gene varieties are advisable for early sowing in Punjab, stressing that efficient crop administration stays crucial for optimum development and productiveness of any selection.
He added that for wholesome cotton cultivation, daytime temperatures ought to vary between 28 and 32 levels Celsius, whereas nighttime temperatures ought to stay between 16 and 18 levels Celsius. “At these temperatures, cotton can develop nicely on this area,” Sajid mentioned.
In accordance with the ginners’ group, cotton cultivation is prone to enhance this yr as a result of efforts of the Sindh and Punjab governments to advertise early sowing.
“Cotton cultivation started within the coastal districts of Sindh — together with Badin, Thatta, Sanghar, Tando Mohammad Khan, Fazil Rahu and Gharo — in the course of the second week of February. It’s now underway in Punjab as nicely,” mentioned Ihsanul Haq, Chairman of the Cotton Ginners Discussion board.
He expressed hope that a rise in cultivated space and manufacturing would considerably cut back Pakistan’s reliance on imported cotton.
