A delegation of senior scientists and agricultural experts visited the Cotton Research Station Faisalabad to review the National Coordinated Varietal Trials and promising cotton breeding material being developed under the Punjab Government’s cotton revival initiative.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The visiting experts expressed satisfaction with the performance of advanced cotton lines and said the research could support efforts to improve cotton productivity across Punjab and other cotton growing areas of Pakistan.
Scientists Review NCVT Trials and Breeding Work
The delegation included Dr. Qamar Shakil, Member NSDRA, Dr. Amir Rasool, Director General Pest Warning, and other senior agricultural scientists and officials.
Dr. Jehanzeb Farooq, Principal Scientist Cotton, received the delegation and briefed the participants on the research activities being carried out at the station.
He explained the progress of cotton varietal evaluation under the National Coordinated Varietal Trials, achievements of the breeding programme and future strategies for developing high yielding and climate resilient cotton varieties. The delegation reviewed different experimental plots and examined the performance of advanced cotton breeding lines under field conditions.
Strong Crop Performance After Monsoon Rains
Despite recent heavy monsoon rains, the scientists observed healthy crop growth and promising breeding material under NCVT evaluation. Several advanced cotton lines showed strong boll bearing capacity. Some elite plants were producing more than 50 bolls per plant, indicating encouraging yield potential.
The experts appreciated the efforts of researchers and field staff who maintained the cotton trials during challenging weather conditions. The performance of the crop was described as an encouraging development for cotton research and future varietal improvement programmes.
Cotton Lines Suitable for Mechanical Harvesting
The delegation also reviewed single stem cotton lines being developed for mechanical harvesting. These lines could help reduce dependence on manual picking while improving harvesting efficiency and lowering production costs for cotton growers.
Researchers also presented large boll and high yielding cotton lines that could contribute to improved farm productivity if they continue to perform successfully during coordinated evaluation and future testing. The visiting experts appreciated the scientific approach adopted for evaluating these varieties under the NCVT system.
Research Supporting Cotton Revival
The visit formed part of the Punjab Government’s special initiative for the revival of cotton cultivation. The delegation said that improved seed varieties, coordinated testing, climate resilience and modern production practices would be essential for restoring cotton output.
The participants acknowledged the vision of the Minister for Agriculture Punjab and the Secretary Agriculture Punjab in promoting research, innovation and varietal development. They also stressed the importance of providing agricultural scientists and research institutions with adequate facilities and institutional support.
Oilseed Research Programmes Reviewed
Following the cotton field visit, the delegation visited the Oilseed Research Institute at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute Faisalabad. The scientists reviewed ongoing research on sesame and soybean breeding programmes and discussed their potential contribution to domestic oilseed production.
The visit highlighted the importance of strengthening research in both cotton and oilseed crops to reduce production gaps and support agricultural sustainability.
Senior Scientists and Officials Attend
The delegation included Dr. Qamar Shakil, Member NSDRA, Dr. Amir Rasool, Director General Pest Warning, Ahmad Naveed Ahsan, Additional Director General Agriculture Pest Warning and Quality Control, Dr. Qurban, Chief Scientist and Director Headquarters AARI, and Dr. Hafiz Bashir, Chief Scientist ORI.
Other participants included Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Ghouri, Divisional Director Pest Warning, Dr. Hafiz Abdul Haseeb, District Director Pest Warning, Dr. Tehseen Azhar representing the Vice Chancellor of the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, and Dr. Moazam Khan, Professor and Principal PARS UAF.
Inam Sahib from FSCRD and his team also participated in the visit.
The research teams included Dr. Jehanzeb Farooq, Hafiz Saeed ur Rehman, Principal Scientist, Dr. Salsabeel, Principal Scientist ORI, and other scientists and technical staff.
Dr. Khalid Mehmood Shouq, Editor in Chief of The Veterinary News and Views, was also part of the delegation.