Punjab Seed Corporation Launches Early Cotton Sowing Campaign

In a significant development for Pakistan's agricultural sector, the Punjab Seed Corporation (PSC) has launched an early cotton sowing campaign, providing certified seeds of six varieties to farmers. As stated by Shahid Qadir, Director of PSC, the available varieties include SS-32, SS-102, NIAB-878, NIAB-Kiran, NIAB-Sanib, and NIAB-545, with prices set at Rs3,700 per 10kg for fuzzy seed and Rs2,500 per 5kg for delinted seed. The Punjab government aims to cultivate 0.7 million acres of early-sown cotton across southern and central Punjab, including Multan, Sahiwal, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and DG Khan. This initiative marks a shift from previous years where early sowing was discouraged due to pest concerns, but changing climate conditions have prompted a reevaluation of this approach. Sajid Mehmood from the Central Cotton Research Institute emphasized that optimal daytime temperatures of 28 to 32 degrees Celsius and nighttime temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees Celsius are crucial for successful cotton growth, stating, "At these temperatures, cotton can grow well in this region."