Seven cotton varieties of CCRI approved for sowing

MULTAN: A sub-committee of Punjab Seed Council has approved seven cotton varieties of Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI) Multan for sowing.

The approved varieties have production potential of 50 maunds per acre.

Talking to The News on Tuesday, CCRI Director Zahid Mehmood said the 81st meeting of the Sub-Expert -Committee of Punjab Seed Council was held at Ayub Agriculture Research Institute, Faisalabad where recommendations for the cultivation of seven new varieties of CCRI were made.

A total of 58 cotton varieties were presented in which most of the recommendations of CCRI cotton varieties were accepted, he said.

The PSC sub-committee approved cotton varieties including BT varieties CIM 678, CIM 785, CIM 775, Cyto-535, Cyto 511 and Cyto 533 while a non-BT variety Cyto 226 was also approved, he maintained. Dr Zahid Mehmood said the meeting approved BT Cyto-533 for Sahiwal and Bahawalpur divisions. In the meeting of the Expert Sub-Committee, Punjab Seed Council chaired by Punjab Director General Agri Research Dr. Zafar Iqbal Qureshi chaired the PSC sub committee meeting while Director CCRI Multan Dr Zahid Mehmood presented the varieties of cotton at the meeting.

Dr Muhammad Akbar, Scientific Officer, Breeding Section and Sajid Mahmood, Head, Transfer of Technology Department were also present on the occasion. Dr Zahid Mehmood said at present, the CCRI has the largest breeding program in the country, which has the capacity to meet all kinds of challenges in cotton research and development.

Agricultural scientists at CCRI are working on new varieties of cotton that can withstand ongoing climate change and have higher productivity while being resistant to diseases. He said at present, CCRI has the largest breeding program in the country, which has the capacity to meet all kinds of challenges in cotton research and development.

Agricultural scientists at CCRI Multan are working on new varieties of cotton that can withstand ongoing climate change and have higher productivity while being resistant to diseases. He said if their farmers take special care of good management and carry out farming activities properly keeping in view the production technology of cultivated cotton.