ISLAMABAD - Realizing the importance of cash crop, cotton, the government has decided that Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) tolerant Bt. Conventional varieties would be preferred and no extraneous pressure in this regard would be accepted.
The official documents obtained by Daily Times here on Tuesday revealed that only the CLCV tolerant varieties would be screened on scientific basis and advanced forward for multiplication and release while strictly adhering to the seed certification system.
During a meeting held a few days ago, it was also decided that the ministry of food and agriculture would notify a mega panel of scientists from various disciplines and departments to facilitate the further screening of most the CLCV tolerant Bt. cotton varieties from the existing set of candidate lines.
It was emphasized during the meeting that cotton scientists should stress whitefly-CLCV link for efficient management of the crop against whitefly.
The meeting asked the Federal Seeds Certification and Registration Department (FSC&RD) to ensure the expeditious multiplication of the CLCV tolerant varieties of Bt cotton to facilitate fast track release of these varieties in maximum quantities.
It was also decided that the newly developed elite varieties will be offered to seed business companies after open advertisement, and Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) between both parties will be signed in case of use of germplasm, variety of one institute by another.
Standardized Operating Procedures (SOPs) for testing and release of GM cotton approved by NBC of Ministry of Environment should be strictly adhered by all stakeholders.
Dr. Qadir Bux Balooch, Agricultural Development Commissioner briefed the participants about the latest position of cotton in the country and stated that during current year cotton had been sown on 7.6 million acres, which was 9 percent higher than last year but 4 percent less than the target. While the over all crop position was satisfactory, he added, all the varieties planted earlier than the normal sowing season escaped the CLCV; however, medium and high disease infection was reported on these varieties which were sown late in accordance with normal cotton sowing period. He expressed his concern about the illegal introduction of Bt cotton in the country and stated that Pakistan should concentrate on developing the CLCV tolerant variety rather than introducing Bt cotton in a haste as unapproved varieties of Bt cotton had facilitated the spread of the CLCV through white fly.
Speaking on the occasion Chairman APTMA, Tariq Mehmood said that the seed testing, certification and release system should be strengthened to ensure the widespread cultivation of approved cotton varieties with acceptable fibre traits in the best interest of all the stakeholders including textile sector. He stressed the need for the introduction of next grade technology in cotton and to bring farmers in the technology loop. He added that textile industry was not comfortable with the fiber traits of Bt cotton varieties and was searching for the procurement of long staple non Bt-cotton varieties like CIM-496.
Representing the cotton farming community, Khawaja Shoaib stated that CLCV was a native issue of Pakistan and we should not be very optimistic about any foreign support in this regard. He reminded that six candidate Bt varieties under testing in NCVT were not approved while others had been developed by the CCRI whose interests should also be properly taken care of instead of out of way benefiting the private sector.
He appreciated the decision taken by the Punjab Seed Council, which protected the legally sanctioned seed system instead of extending undue favour to un-descript Bt varieties.
He was less optimistic about Monsanto for development and introduction of the Pakistan specific Bt technology in the country. He also opposed the purchase of old technology stating that new technology would automatically throw the obsolete technology from the market. He requested that we should shun the Bt craze from the cotton growers and strive to promote good quality fiber cotton varieties (either Bt or non-Bt) with moderate tolerance from curl virus.
During the meeting, Dr. M. E. Tusneem Member, Agriculture and Food, Planning Commission expressed worries about the massive attack of the CLCV particularly in the Bt cotton variety illegally sown in the country and desired that all out efforts should be made to discourage the cultivation of unapproved, illegal Bt cotton in the country.
Meanwhile, the official figures revealed that the incidence of CLCV in Punjab remained at 83.10 percent, while last year it was 54.34 percent on cotton production and it would result lower production than the target. These figures based on the data issued by Department of Pest Warning And Quality Control of Pesticides Punjab, which revealed that the infestation level was on the highest level from the last two years.
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