APTMA demands quality cotton seeds

All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Punjab Chairman Akber Sheikh has appealed to the Prime Minister to ensure supply of quality seeds to farmers for the current cotton crop sowing season. He said the cotton seed supply situation was in a state of utter confusion and the government departments were facing the problem of application of bio-safety protocol and intellectual property rights.

The APTMA Chairman highlight the importance of introduction of certified BT cotton seeds so as to achieve an output of 20 million bales in the shortest possible time to meet the requirements of the industry from domestic sources and eliminate dependence on imports.

He said cotton-seed supply situation in the country is in a state of utter confusion, adding the government departments are facing a dilemma of application of bio-safety protocol and intellectual property rights. The Association held an interactive session with progressive farmers representing the Farmers Associates Pakistan (FAP). The participants from both sides agreed on the importance of both the stakeholders joining hands for furthering matters of common concern.