The country’s cotton production can be increased by 62.5 per cent by developing an industry for seeds, controlling weeds and pests, and adopting improved crop management techniques, sources say.
The Punjab Cotton Control Ordinance, passed in 1966, and amended up to 2002, further needs to be amended to provide mandatory marking of cotton grade and staple length on each cotton bale for the improvement of the standard and quality of cotton. The rules may also be amended to restore the administrative control of Agriculture Department over to the District Officers of Agriculture and Deputy District Officers of Agriculture, alongside Agriculture Officer Extension and Cotton Inspectors instead of the present setup of administrative control being managed by the District Government/District Nazims.The government keept in view that the international quality standards may introduce HVI testing and a marking system on the cotton bales so they may be able to compete in the international market. For this purpose a time frame may be allowed to the ginners to upgrade their ginning factories and adopt HVI classification.
The Government may revise the Agricultural Pesticides Rules of 1973 to give power to the Inspector to seal the storage of pesticides with the pesticide companies or dealers if the Inspector(s) has/have sufficient grounds to believe that the pesticide in question is sub-standard or outdated. Such companies should be heavily fined and black listed and the chemical present in the pesticide may be destroyed.
In this regard, cotton commissioner Dr Khalid told online sources that seed legislation is pending from the last ten years; therefore, the industry is suffering a lot. He said that the country’s seeds requirement is about forty thousand metric tonnes while only ten percent of that figure is available on the time of cultivation. He said that the latest state-of-the-art technology should be adopted to complete the requirements of the country. He said that the Seed Act of 1976 and the Seed (Amended) Act of 2005 should be made more effective and that the rules may be amended. He also stated that the extension staff of the Agriculture Department may also be empowered under the Seed Act to regulate effectively the sale of approved quality seed. He said that seventy percent of pesticides are used on cotton therefore amendments are required in Pesticides act to enhance the capacity of the industry and to improve the situation.
Dr Khalid also pointed out the shortage of manpower and said that our seed industry does not have sufficient manpower to handle the demand of seeds, therefore illegal and substandard seeds are sold in the market.
