Growers suggested to save lots of cotton crop from bugs assault

FAISALABAD – Agriculture experts have advised cotton farmers to follow recommendations from the Department of Agriculture to protect the cotton crop from attack by whitefly, mealybugs and other insects. Agriculture director Chaudhry Abdul Hameed said here on Monday that the whitefly attack on the cotton crop could reduce production by up to 60 percent. He said that if necessary, a pest scan could be carried out within a 7-day interval. He advised farmers to pull all kinds of weeds from the cotton fields and watercourses to eradicate the whitefly and mealybugs. He said pest control should be done through Holocene nozzles and the amount of water spray should be 100-120 liters per acre. He urged the cotton farmers to apply nitrogen fertilizers if necessary.