Punjab secretary agriculture Muhammad Mahmud said on Wednesday that preparations were afoot in line with Cotton Mission 2025 to achieve the milestone of 20 million bales production of cotton in Punjab by 2025 “Cotton Mission is a road map to take cotton to its due status in Punjab,” Mahmud said in a statement issued by media liaison unit of Punjab agriculture department. A marathon process of consultations with all the stakeholders would be initiated to get their opinions and suggestions for development of cotton. Mahmud said that scientists have been assigned the task to conduct research on high yielding seed technology and other aspects to revive cotton’s higher productivity.
The Punjab secretary agriculture said that the on-going seed sowing campaign that began on April 1 would be completed by May 31 at all cost. He said that the provincial government was working with those engaged with the whole supply chain of cotton under long and mid-term planning. He disclosed that a cotton council was being formed that would comprise representatives from government, farmers, APTMA, PCGA and other representatives from private sector. He said that PB-Ropes had proved beneficial for farmers last season in tackling pink bollworm and asked the federal plant protection department to allow private sector import PB-Ropes. He said that field formations of agriculture department have been instructed to launch a two-week long campaign against pink bollworm immediately pleading that an effective control on the initial stage would benefit farmers not only this season but also the next cotton season.

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