950812

'No damage to

cotton crop

despite floods'

ISLAMABAD: No damage has been done to the cotton crop by the recent floods which is expected to be 12 percent more severe than that of last year, stated Sharif Niaz, an agricultural expert and former chairman of the price commission.

Talking to PPI here on Saturday Niaz, who has recently undertook a tour of the cotton growing areas in the Punjab said two factors has led to an increase in the areas under cotton crop which is estimated to be 2.95 million hectares in the entire country.

He said the factors responsible for bringing areas under cotton crop were prevalence of the high price and shifting over to cultivation of cotton over large tracts of land earlier meant for sugarcane growing.

He said the mills refused to pay prompt and full price for sugarcane brought to the mills by the growers who after getting dis-illusioned took to cotton growing.

He also said, so far the crop is also safe from attack of virus and of any other diseases.-PPI