Pakistan’s Punjab Cotton Research Institute (PCRI) has developed a pest-resistant cotton seed variety after ten years of research that can produce more than 50 maunds (one mound equals 37.32 kg) of cotton seed per acre. The crop quickly matures compared to other varieties, which can save costs, according to Multan province deputy commissioner Amir Khattak. PCRI director Sagheer Ahmed said the height of the cotton plant is smaller than other varieties with reduced leafs. The farmers can sow the variety from April to May and the crop would mature in September. He said research on whitefly and pink bollworm is under way and the project would be complete in the next two years, according to a newspaper report.
