Home Agriculture Climate Change causes 50% decline in cotton production in Sindh

Climate Change causes 50% decline in cotton production in Sindh

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Climate Change causes 50% decline in cotton production in Sindh

Agronomists, private sector and agricultural academic researchers at a seminar on ‘Cotton Production Technology’ underline need for more research and attention on agriculture.

Tando Jam

Provincial Secretary of Agriculture Qazi Aijaz Mahesar while speaking at a seminar here on Thursday disclosed that the production of cotton has decreased by 50 percent due to climate change.

“The lack of pure seeds and less focus on the cotton crop have had a profound effect on Pakistan’s textile industry,” he said.

The seminar on “Cotton production technology” was organized under the auspices of Sindh Agriculture University in collaboration with Department of Agriculture Government of Sindh and Engro Fertilizer Limited.

The agronomists, private sector and agricultural academic researchers in their speeches stressed the need for more research and attention on agriculture, saying that cotton production is declining due to climate change, water scarcity, and other reasons, and there is a need to check the quality of pure seeds and pesticides.

Dr. Fateh Marri, Vice Chancellor, said that given current climate change conditions, water scarcity, and other issues, new varieties of pure seeds and agricultural policies need to be improved.

He said that joint research projects with agricultural research institutes and the private sector could be worked out to solve the problems faced by the agricultural sector of the province, new seed commodities, agriculture, livestock, and other agricultural sectors.

Progressive Farmer Syed Nadeem Shah urged improving the performance of Sindh Seed Corporation, and provision of pure seeds. He said there is a need to increase the agricultural research budget in Sindh.

Khusrau Nadir Gilani, Chief Commercial Officer, Engro Fertilizers Limited, said that due to rapid shortage of zinc in children in Pakistan, zinc has been introduced in food crops.

Hidayatullah Chhajro, Director General. Agricultural Extension said that the experts of the Extension Department are working on various awareness programs and fieldwork to solve problems in the agricultural sector including seeds, fertilizers and pesticides.

Owais Mushtaq Paracha of Engro Fertilizer, Muhammad Asif Ali, Naveed Alam Qureshi, Junaid Zubairi, Prof. Dr. Zahoor Hussain Soomro, Dr. Ghulam Murtaza Jamro, Zulfiqar Ali Shah and others also addressed.

Pro Vice Chancellor SAU Sub Campus Umerkot, Dr. Jan Mohammad Marri, Director General Agriculture Research Sindh Noor Mohammad Baloch, Dr. Qamaruddin Chachar, Dr. Syed Ghiyasuddin Shah Rashdi, Dr. Manzoor Ali Abro, Dr. Inayatullah Rajpar, Registrar Ghulam Mohiyuddin Qureshi, and others attended the Seminar. (PR)

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