ISLAMABAD – Expressing dissatisfaction over the state of cotton research, the National Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture on Friday directed the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MINFA) to pursue an indigenous cotton research programme, instead of looking on the United States to help in this regard.
The meeting of the committee was held under the chairmanship of Javed Iqbal Warriach. MINFA officials briefed the committee that the government was aiming to increase cotton production to 20 million bales by 2015. They said it would be achieved through the commercialisation of BT cotton with the help of multinational companies. Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Director Multan Muhammad Arshad said BT cotton gave production of 90 maunds (40 kilograms) per acre production. However, his contention was challenged by Committee Member Abdul Kadir Khanzada who asked the ministry to submit solid proof instead of making unsubstantiated statements that would be beneficial to multinational firms only.
The chairman of the committee said that his standard cotton yield was 30 maunds per acre, but last year he was provided with a prized BT cotton seed by the former chairman of the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council which yielded only six maunds per acre.
The CCRI director has termed the Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) the biggest threat to domestic cotton for which there is curently no remedy available while the United States had assured providing assistance. Abdul Kadir Khanzada questioned why numerous research institutions had only managed to develop only five cotton varieties since 1976. He opined that research institutions are functioning in a uncoordinated manner and questioned the utility of the bodies and whether they should be closed. The officials replied that they have successfully crossed the desi (indigenous) cotton with BT cotton and research was going on to find a cure to CLCV.
The committee was informed that the cotton production in the last crop was estimated at 10.98 million bales. The committee expressed disbelief of the output levels of 1.320 tonnes per hectare in production of cotton in Sindh, last year. Officials contended that the figure was correct as it was compiled by the Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association. The committee was informed that 90 percent of the pesticide spraying equipment was faulty and was one of the major reasons for the inefficiency of pesticides. Amendments were proposed in the Agriculture Pesticides Act but it is expected approval will take some time.
