LAHORE – Sowing of Kharif crops has considerably been shrunk and as a result the use of fertilizers has also drastically been reduced, said Agri Forum Pakistan Chairman Ibrahim Mughal here on Thursday.
Talking to media, he said that as compared to previous year, the use of nitrogen on Kharif crops had been decreased by 22 per cent, phosphorus 25 per cent and potash 67 per cent.
“Agriculture has become a loss making job and due to costly availability of fertilizers as compared to prices of crops, agriculturists are losing interests in farming.”  He said that 70 per cent of the country’s export depends upon cotton and rice and if the area of these crops continued to be shrank, trade deficit would cross Rs2200 billion and, consequently, unemployment and poverty would touch new heights, he added.
APP add: The Punjab Agriculture (Ext & AR) has advised cotton growers to look after the crop keeping in view weather conditions as September is very important for the crop. Punjab Agriculture (Ext & AR) Director General Dr Muhammad Anjum Ali told APP on Thursday that cotton growers should complete irrigation of the crop.
 and asked them to make proper arrangements for drainage of rainwater.
He said juice sucking insects did harm the crop in September and these insects include white fly,thrips and others. Different worms also attack in the same month so growers should use recommended insecticides to avoid the damage.
The growers should carry out Glyphosate spray according to an advise of the agriculture extension department to remove weeds from the crop, he added. He said the damaged crop should be watered besides the proper use of fertilizer. Growth promoter spray should be used in those area where proper system of drainage is not available and the crop is getting weak, he added.