Cotton crop management reviewed

The Sindh food and agriculture department will install a toll-free telephone lines at the Tandojam agriculture department to solve the problems of the growers and farmers on priority basis, it was learnt on Saturday.
Sindh Food and Agriculture Minister Arif Mustafa Jatoi at a meeting to review cotton crop management, and related affairs in his office, said the problems of the farmers should be addressed on war-footings so that the delay did not affect production of different crops. Agriculture experts and officials of the food and agriculture department attended the meeting.
The minister said a mass media campaign on electronic-and print-media has commenced to enhance the awareness about crop management among the farming community, adding this campaign would be regularly modified and updated in accordance with the position of cotton and other crops to make it more effective and helpful for growers.
Arif Mustafa Jatoi said a toll-free telephone line would be established to resolve the problems of the growers also. Initially, this line is being established in Tandojam, and extended to other important cities and towns from where the agriculturists would be able to contact officials for help.
He said through this line the growers and farmers would be able to obtain expert opinion through these toll-free numbers, as experts from different fields would be available to answer questions from the farmers.
The minister said in the next meeting the cotton crop management committee representatives of fertiliser and pesticides association would also be invited, adding to address irrigation issues one responsible officer from the irrigation department would also be included to have update on availability of water.
The minister told the meeting that in spite of shortage of water to the extent of 51 percent this year, satisfactory cotton sowing had been recorded.
Arif Jatoi said there was no report of pest attack but monsoons were not without it. He asked the officials that take pre-emptive measure against any such expected eventuality.
He said in case such an attack was there, expert opinion should be obtained from responsible staff so that proper pesticide could be used for better result.
While chairing another meeting in his office, Arif Jatoi told growers that the production of sugarcane this year remained more than the targeted estimate despite shortage of water.
He said two varieties of sugarcane CO-225 and Disco have already banned as these varieties do not suit the climatic atmosphere of Sindh. Representatives of growers suggested that keeping in view of the increasing cultivation of variety Thatta-10, it should be promoted.
The minister said the Thatta-10 variety has the ability to give better yield in all respect.