KARACHI (February 18 2004): Chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Dr Badaruddin Soomro has said that agricultural sector of the country can be upgraded and modernised only by enhanced research based on experiences and requirements of growers instead of isolated work by scientists.

The Parc has been imparting training to growers and initiated many other programs to promote awareness among the growers about various risk factors, cost-effective measures and future possible challenges mainly after WTO becomes operative.

The Parc's national integrated pesticide management (IPM) programme was a big success in this regard.

The Chairman Parc was speaking at the opening session of 3-day IPM Hari Congress here on Monday which was participated by a large number of growers including women agriculturists and agriculture experts from public and private sectors.

Dr Badaruddin Soomro said the Parc under IPM program had initiated tour projects which included the policy and strategy for rational use of pesticides that is sponsored by FAO/UNDP/Global IPM facility, FAO-EU IPM program for cotton in Asia, the ADB cotton IPM TA for Pakistan and Arab Gulf for UNDP project on pesticide risk reduction in women since 2000.

Under IPM, more than 300 farmers field schools (FFS) have been set up in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan provinces to give training aimed to groom the agriculturists as risk managers, active co-ordinators with agri-researchers through their consciousness and best implementers.

So far 258 extensionists, researchers, NGO personnel and farmers have been trained as facilitators who would train other people. Around 7,781 farmers including 156 females in the three provinces were given training.

He said through this programme, the growers were being told to use pesticides only when it is unavoidable and the number and quantity of these sprays should be based on rationale and demand of the situation.

If the attack of insects one's crop is minor, farmers should not rush for spraying pesticides and unnecessarily waste his money rather damage the soil and threaten human health.

In some cases it has been noted that growers do 10 sprays instead four actually required.

"Do not use pesticide as input. It would not increase your yield," Dr Soomro cautioned the growers.

Under pesticide policy project, the factors supporting pesticide use in the country and the externalities there of were analysed. It was revealed that the external cost estimates amounted to over Rs 11 billion per year for just nine major cotton growing districts of Punjab.

Pesticide residue was found in ground water, soil and food chain. All samples of shallow ground water, vegetable, fruit, cotton seed oil and cotton seed cake were contaminated. Over 60 percent samples of vegetable and other food items had residue beyond maximum limits set by WHO.

Human health particularly of pesticide applicators and women cotton pickers was found to be alarming and 63 percent households were being affected per season due to pesticide exposure at farm level. Over 87 percent cotton pickers experienced sickness and work day loss.

He said by practising the IPM, farmers have reduced the use of pesticides by 87 percent and over 85 percent farmers had zero spray. On the average their yield was up by 10.5 percent and input expenditure was less by 22 percent and the gross margin by was up by 46 percent.

In separate exclusive program for women, 38 facilitators and 493 women farm workers have been trained in pesticide risk reduction through 19 women open schools (WOS) in Sindh and Punjab.

These trained women by forming their organisations like WADO have initiated income generating activities as stitching, vegetable cultivation, vegetable seed production and livestock production on self-help basis.

He said that realising the success and importance of the IPM approach, the government has approved a five year project to the PARC at cost of Rs 197.433 million.

This program would be aimed to develop a cadre of IPM trainers from existing extension or field plant protection staff to train farmers in farmers field schools (FFS).

It would work on promotion of co-operation for IPM among research institutions, development agencies, extension services, farmers and NGOs and to improve access for all interested parties to information from within and outside of the program area with ultimate aim of profitable and environmentally sound agriculture production.

Dr Badar Soomro said Sindh was facing shortage of quality seed including that of wheat or cotton due to lack of private or public sector companies dealing in seed.

In Punjab more than 100 companies were doing business of seeds while the growers here solely depend on Government's Seed Corporation which delivers very little in this regard. 80 percent cotton seed in Sindh comes from NIAB, Punjab. Punjab Government has already banned the seed supply from NIAB, declaring the seed sub-standard, he said.

He called upon influential people in Sindh to come forward and open companies to develop and sell quality seeds as researchers could not grow a variety on large-scale due to cost and time factors.

Organisations/companies and societies must started co-ordinated work with research bodies and individuals to further develop new varieties to help resolve shortage of quality and pure seeds.

"I have talked with Sindh Chief Minister to allow setting up these companies," he added.

He said that only institution to develop cotton seed in Sindh is Sakrand Research institute which was closed for last 10 years. We should work for its improvement, not to close an organisation if works up to the satisfaction, he stressed.

On the occasion, the Parc Chief offered all financial and technical assistance on behalf of the Parc to women agriculturists if they bring viable projects.

Courtesy Business Recorder