The Agriculture Department has instructed farmers to implement off-season cotton management strategies to protect the subsequent crop from the pink bollworm's attack. According to a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, the pink bollworm hibernates in November and December, although its eggs are still present on cotton seeds, branches, and dry leaves in farms and ginning factories. He cautioned that they resume activity after the winter when the temperature is appropriate.

In order to protect the next harvests from the pink bollworm's onslaught, he advised cotton producers to take action during the off-season. The pink bollworm, its larvae, and its eggs may perish if farmers trim the branches of cotton crops closer to the ground until January 31 and keep them in the sun. In addition to employing a rotavator plough in the cotton field after the crop was fully harvested, the spokesperson suggested burning the crop remnants at producers' farms and in ginning factories to protect the following crop from the pest's attack.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk