A farmer sprinkles fertiliser in a field. —APP/FileKARACHI: In a significant move towards boosting agricultural productivity, the Sindh government has approved 12 innovative crop varieties, including cotton, wheat, mustard and ber, developed by the province’s leading agricultural research institutions.
The newly approved crop varieties have shown remarkable resistance to various diseases, enhanced growth rate, and higher yields compared to their traditional counterparts. These novel crop varieties have the potential to revolutionize the agricultural sector in Sindh and play a vital role in addressing the food security concerns and promoting sustainable agriculture practices.
“The Sindh government has always been committed to supporting the province’s agricultural development,” a senior government official stated. “By introducing these high-yielding crop varieties, we are confident that the agricultural sector in Sindh will not only improve its productivity but also contribute to the country’s food security.”
The initiative has been well-received by farmers in Sindh, who have long been seeking improved crop varieties to increase their yields and productivity. The introduction of disease-resistant crop varieties, in particular, is seen as a major breakthrough, given the devastating impact of various diseases on the agriculture sector in recent years.
“These disease-resistant crop varieties are a welcome move for us farmers,” Shahid Ali, a cotton farmer from Sukkur, said in an interview. “It has been a challenge for us to fight diseases like cotton leaf curl virus, which has significantly affected our yields in the past few years. With the introduction of disease-resistant crop varieties, we can now breed more crops without worrying about these diseases.”
Stakeholders believe that the move by the Sindh government to introduce these innovative crop varieties is a major step in the right direction. Nonetheless, some critics have raised concerns over the lack of financial support for farmers, as they are needed to incorporate these new varieties into their existing agricultural practices.
Way Forward
Although the development and introduction of innovative crop varieties will significantly improve agricultural productivity in Sindh, however, experts have explicitly underscored the need for sustained investment in agricultural research and development, the constant need for extension and capacity-building services, in continuation with robust policies that can effectively address the immediate requirements of this ever-demanding sector.