KARACHI: Major locust attacks in most cotton zones in Punjab, Balochistan and Sindh have jeopardized a potential cotton production of Rs 15 million this season, which could affect the overall national cotton production once again. Are born
Chairman Cotton Ginners Forum Ehsan-ul-Haq said that after decades of full availability of canal water and reduced cultivation of sugarcane, record cultivation of cotton was expected to increase the gross national product of cotton this year. Is now in danger.
He said that locust heart attacks in Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Multan, Rajanpur, DG Khan, Sibi, Dera Murad Jamali, Khuzdar, Lasbela and Kachhi districts of Balochistan were the major cotton growing districts in Punjab. The cotton crop has been severely damaged while Hyderabad, Matiari, Mirpur Khas, Sanghar and Nawabshah districts of Sindh have been partially damaged and Ghotki and Sukkur districts have been severely damaged, raising fears of a decline in gross national cotton production. have been.
Experts say there are reports of a major locust heart attack in the next few days from Muscat via Iran and India’s border areas with Cholistan, raising fears of severe damage to all crops and green fodder, including cotton.
Therefore, the federal and provincial governments should take extraordinary steps to eradicate locusts so that the country’s agricultural future can be secured. He appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan to allocate a huge amount of money from the agricultural package announced by him a few days ago for the eradication of locusts and to order air spraying planes and pesticides on an emergency basis so that locusts Crops can be saved from complete heart failure.
He further said that due to easing of lockdown in most countries of the world including Europe, business activities have been restored to a large extent and exports of cotton products from Pakistan are expected to pick up from this week. According to reports, Pakistani textile mills have substantial orders for export of cotton products but they were not being fulfilled due to the lockdown, which is expected to significantly increase the country’s foreign exchange reserves from now on.
