Cotton growers urged to use mechanical boll picker to prevent pink bollworm

MULTAN: The Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan has stressed upon growers to use mechanical boll picker to prevent pink bollworm on a permanent basis. The CCRI has recommended that the growers should avoid pesticide sprays in the first 60 days of cotton sowing.

Speaking at the one day training workshop on Pink Bollworm management strategy on Friday, CCRI Director Dr Zahid Mehmood asked growers to use the PB Ropes and Mechanical Boll Pickers to prevent Pink Bollworm.

Special efforts are being made at the CCRI Multan to achieve higher cotton production. He said to control diseases, pests and various research programs the use of technology is proving to be very useful.

He further said that this institute is continuing various research programs to solve the challenges facing the farmers and the CCRI in all the districts of Punjab with the Department of Agriculture Extension Punjab and other departments concerned.

He said thanks to the joint efforts of training programs, Pink Bollworm is helping in controlling the infestation, which will result in improved production. In order to get healthy production and for this various steps are being taken.

Addressing the participants, South Punjab Additional Secretary Agriculture for Barakullah Khan told the farmers that the services of CCRI agricultural scientists in tackling the challenges of Pink Bollworm and other insects were commendable. He further said in his address that farmers should not spray the cotton crop at all for the first 60 days and if spraying is unavoidable in any place, they should immediately contact the officials of Punjab Agriculture Department and Follow the recommendations. He said cotton is the lifeline for our economy and we all have to work together for its development," he said. Dr Rabia Saeed, Head of Department of Entomology, CCRI Multan, said uplift of cotton is linked to the prosperity of Pakistan.