Pakistan 4th biggest world cotton producer

A THREE-DAY International conference of Asian Research and Development Network has concluded.

About 50 delegates from 15 countries participated in the conference along with a large number of agricultural scientists, exporter, trader and farmers from Pakistan. Former Speaker National Assembly Fakhar Imam, Member National Assembly Chaudhry Iftikhar Nazir and Dr. Mounir G. Abu Haidar, Associate Professor, University of Toronto Canada, chaired the technical sessions.

According to the spokesman of Agriculture Department, share of cotton in agricultural value addition is 8.6 percent where as it provides 40 percent employment along with 60 percent export earnings. Pakistan ranks 4th in the world cotton production by having a share of 9.5 percent, third largest exporter of raw cotton, third largest consumer of cotton, second largest exporter of yarn and third exporter of cloth.

However, domestic cotton production due to continuous infestation of Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) and climate change effects has plagued national cotton productivity badly. During the three-day deliberations, Scientists shared ideas, knowledge and experiences for improving cotton productivity in Pakistan.

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) also elected Dr. Noor-ul-Islam, Director General Agri. (Research), Punjab, as new Chairman of Asian Cotton Research and Development Network.

Addressing the concluding session, Arif Nadeem, Secretary Agriculture, Punjab, congratulated the participants of the workshop on establishing a long lasting collaboration between scientists and their efforts.