Dawn via SEAMEO SEARCA

Virus-resistant cotton seed varieties will be available for farmers within two to three years, agriculture scientists told Pakistan's Agricultural Development Commissioner Qadir Bux Baloch in a meeting here on Saturday.

The meeting, held at the Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI), was attended by CCRI director Muhammad Arshad, scientists of Sakrand CCRI, and cotton research stations of Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Ghotki, Mirpur Khas and Dera Ismail Khan.

In the second-day deliberations, scientists briefed Dr Qadir Bux that the research work was under way to evolve virus-resistant cotton seed varieties.

The institutes where research work continues at full pace include the National Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad; CEMB Lahore; NIAB Faisalabad; NIA Tando Jam; and Hyderabad.

The CCRI director informed the meeting that the CCRI in collaboration with provincial research stations and centres was trying to crossbreed seed varieties of wild and domestic cotton and its results were very encouraging.

Dr Qadir Bux was also informed about the research conducted on the mealy bug. He said that growers must benefit from the results of this research work.