This year, 50 percent more than chili requirement will be available in the country, demanding effective measures for the export of the commodity with pro-farmers policies otherwise chili growers would face severe financial setback.

This year, 50 percent more than chili requirement will be available in the country, demanding effective measures for the export of the commodity with pro-farmers policies otherwise chili growers would face severe financial setback. It was said by eleven members of Sindh chili growers led by Mian Saleem during a meeting with UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at syndicate Room. Mian Saleem said that due to decline in cotton production, growers are shifting towards chili in Sindh. He said that last year, in Sindh, 80,000 acre of land was under cultivation which has now risen to 2 lakh acre. He said that the cotton crops had faced to 40 percent decline last year. He sought scientists help introduce the climate tolerant varieties in order to increase the productivity. He said that the chili cultivation had been facing leaf curl virus as it attacked after two months on the crop. He said that the USAID has equipped them with hand-on green chili, handling and drying trainings. the farmers requested the Vice Chancellor to send a group of scientists of soil, entomologists and plant breeding to provide the solutions to their problems. UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that Punjab was the biggest consumer of the chilli with more than 60 percent of the population. He said hat chilli or onions’ shelf life was very short. We are working on viable solutions to extend their shelf life. He said that a delegate of the UAF was visiting to Sukker in the last week of this month where they would meet the growers and scientists. Talking about the rice, he said, “rice demands excessive water .We export rice worth Rs2 billion at the cost of Rs10 billion of water. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed on a national level. He also suggested to shifting from rice to oilseed in Punjab by creating healthy markets for farmers. Principal Officer Public Relations and Publications Prof Dr Jalal Arif said that the nature has blessed us with the four seasons, fertile lands and talented people. He said that the UAF had been taking the revolutionary steps for the uplift of agricultural sector in the country. Assistant Publicity Officer Agri Extension Sindh Ghulam Mustafa Nangraj also spoke