Special campaign to control cotton pests launched

LAHORE:The Punjab Agriculture Department has launched a special campaign on an emergency basis to control cotton pests especially white-fly.

The Agri department's spokesman told media here Wednesday that special teams are fully active for cotton surveillance and remediation of pests. Secretary Agriculture Iftikhar Ali Sahoo also visited various cotton areas to review the cotton crop situation.

He added that due to hot and dry weather, the attack of cotton white-fly has been observed in some areas of south Punjab, for which the pesticides are being sprayed through drones and helicopters with the technical support of Pakistan Army. The white-fly, he explained, takes shelter in the surrounding fields during spraying therefore drone technology is being used to spray more areas in less time. Free of cost spraying is being done in the cotton areas and 1400 high spray machines have been provided for pest control.

Apart from this, priority supply of canal water is going on in South Punjab. Awareness campaign is also going on through print, electronic and digital media for technical support to the farmers. During this campaign, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has also received financial assistance of Rs 50 million. Agriculture Department is working side by side with the farmers to control the harmful insects of cotton crop.