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Project to boost cotton,
sugarcane output launched
ISLAMABAD - The Ministry of Science and Technology has
launched a project of mass rearing and release of beneficial
insects to control pests of cotton and sugarcane.
According to an official announcement, the project worth Rs 5
million will be executed by Nuclear Institute of Agriculture
and Biology (NIAB), within two years.The abolishment of pests,
which causes major loss to per acre yield of cotton and
sugarcane, should be controlled through safe methods of
bio-control, it added.
Some pesticides disturb the whole natural bio-control agents
and contribute to the development of high level of resistance
in many insects, said the announcement.
A number of insecticides worth Rs 900 million per annum are
being applied in agriculture crops, specially in cotton and
sugar cane. There is a great demand from farmers community to
use these beneficial insects to get rid of insecticides.
"After the construction of facilities the beneficial insects
will be mass reared on day and night basis throughout the year
without any break and will be released immediately in crops."
Cotton is Pakistan's biggest cash crop. It occupies around 12%
of the country's total cropped area. It generates nearly 64%
of total foreign exchange and employs 5 millions persons.
Cotton provides raw material to 310 textile mills, 1035
ginning factories and 5,000 oil expellers.
The project will save huge expenditure of Rs 900m, being spent
on the import of insecticides.
September 20, 2001 |
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