US, Pakistan scientists team up for CLCV-resistant cotton

05 Sep '12

2 min read

A group of five American scientists have collaborated with a number of Pakistani agriculturalists to find a solution to combat Pakistan’s biggest cotton crop destroying disease – the Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV).

As part of the collaboration, the agricultural scientists from both the nations, in coordination with Pakistan’s Ministry of Textile Industry and the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), conducted a workshop to improve ‘Resistance to Cotton Leaf Curl Virus Disease’ at the National Agriculture Research Council in Islamabad.

The two-day-long workshop was a part of the US Government sponsored ‘Cotton Productivity Enhancement Program’.

Speaking at the workshop, US Agriculture Counselor Todd Drennan said agriculture touches many lives in Pakistan and is a vital part of the country’s economy. The United States wants to help in enhancing the productivity of Pakistan’s agricultural sector, especially small farmers. The cooperation between the scientists of the two nations is an example of that commitment, he added.

Experts believe that CLCV is the major reason for the decline in Pakistan’s cotton and textile exports. During the last fiscal year (July-June 2011-12), Pakistan’s textile sector export declined to US$ 12.35 billion from US$ 13.78 billion in the same period last year.

Apart from the workshop and other CLCV related programs, the visiting American team also examined the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded cotton growing trails in Faisalabad and Multan in Pakistan, where some of the new cotton varieties are showing preliminary signs of resistance to CLCV.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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