PCGA Urges Govt To Ensure Supply Of Registered Cotton Seed

MULTAN, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Oct, 2016 ) : Pakistan Cotton Ginners Association (PCGA) Chairman Dr Jassu Mal has urged the government to ensure supply of registered and high yielding cotton seed varieties to farmers through national and multinational seed companies.

While talking to APP here Wednesday, Dr Jassu Mal said that farmers suffered record production losses last year due to substandard seed, pesticides and other factors. He said that the government should intensify campaign against sale of substandard seed and pesticides.

He said that cotton crop situation was far better this year compared to last year and expressed the hope that country may get around 12 million cotton bales this year. Dr Jassu Mal, however, added that national cotton production target should be 15-20 million bales to give a boost to rural economy and accelerate business activities.

He said that farmers were getting good price for their production, however, added that government should announce cotton support price and also direct Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to intervene in the market as buyer to improve financial conditions of cotton farmers.

He said that establishing a strong relationship between research organisations, Agriculture Department and farmers was imperative to get enhanced production of our crops. Moreover, steps should be taken to ensure that farmers get quality agriculture inputs at affordable prices at their doorstep.

He said that the agriculture universities and colleges should also play their role in monitoring agriculture fields regularly and extend guidelines to farmers.