Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhr Imam has announced that the government would provide subsidy to cotton growers on seed, pesticide and fertilisers.
Speaking at a seminar on the impact of climate change on agriculture on Monday, Imam added that a minimum support price will also be announced to encourage the farming community to bring the maximum land under cotton production.
He said his ministry has worked on seed traceability, germination, production capacity, and seed purity to facilitate farmers’ recovery from the current seed shortage, and stressed the need to start value-addition of the country’s main crops, reminding that Pakistan is one of the few countries which have been affected by climate change. “Because of climatic change, seed technology and genetic engineering are of the utmost importance so as to adapt to the changing climate and water scarcity,” he added.
Moreover, the minister said that Pakistan has started working with China to promote agritech and genetic engineering by exchanging research information. “Applied research is vital to facilitate farmers pointing out that rain and precipitation promote pests and diseases among crops,” he said.
