Multan: Agriculture Punjab (Extension), Director General Abdul Hameed, visited Bahawalpur, where he reviewed in detail the ongoing field activities of the Agriculture Extension department, the current situation of the cotton crop, and the implementation of various agricultural initiatives of the Chief Minister Punjab. The Director General also chaired a review meeting on cotton, during which the current status of the crop, strategy for the next three to four weeks, measures to increase per-acre yield, and steps to protect the crop from weather-related impacts, pests, and diseases were discussed in detail.
Director Agriculture Extension Bahawalpur Division Muhammad Jameel Ghori, along with Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors and Agriculture Officers of the Agriculture Extension Department from Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Rahim Yar Khan, participated in the meeting online. Agriculture Punjab (Extension) DG Abdul Hameed said that the cotton crop had now entered a highly important and decisive productive stage, and the next three to four weeks were extremely crucial for increasing per-acre yield.
He directed officers and field staff to educate farmers that attacks of whitefly (adults and nymphs) and pink bollworm were currently being observed in cotton fields. Therefore, farmers should be advised to carry out sprays with recommended insecticides for effective control of whitefly at an interval of at least six days, while calendar-based sprays against pink bollworm should be conducted at intervals of six to seven days. Farmers should also be encouraged to complete at least three sprays against both pests by September 20.
He further directed that farmers should be provided practical guidance on weather conditions, nutrition management, pest management, irrigation management, timely picking, and other important aspects of cotton crop management. He emphasized that during this critical stage of the cotton crop, officers and field staff should not remain confined to their offices but spend maximum time in the field to provide effective guidance and support to farmers. The DG also directed the field staff to ensure accurate and timely reporting regarding cotton factories, along with their regular and effective monitoring.
During the meeting, the Director General Agriculture Punjab (Extension) also reviewed progress on various initiatives, including the Chief Minister Punjab Green Tractor Programme, Kisan Card, Apna Khet Apna Rozgar, and Agricultural Graduates Internship Programme, as well as other agricultural schemes.
