Cotton is the main cash crop of Pakistan. In Pakistan it is a main source of foreign exchange earnings and also provides livelihood to millions of people. Sahiwal Division (District Sahiwal, Pakpattan and Okara) is a non-core area of cotton crop. The research work at Cotton Research Station, Sahiwal was started from 1957 to 1971 as Sub-Station and Full-fledged Research Station from November, 1972 under the auspices of a scheme "Improvement of cotton at Sahiwal". The scheme was sanctioned by Pakistan Central Cotton Committee in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Punjab. Upto 1985-86, the expenditure was borne on 50:50 basis. After that the contingent expenditure was provided by Punjab Government and income is being deposited into Punjab Govt. treasury. The objective of research work was the evolution of high yielding, climate adaptive, early maturing and insect/disease resistant varieties with desirable fibre characteristics. As a result of hybridization and evaluation of research work at the station SLH-41 variety was released for general cultivation in the zone in 1984. The breeding programme continued and a galaxy of new strains was developed but occurrence of CLCuV disease posed a serious threat to cotton crop. Most of the breeding material in hand was infected by the disease. After extensive testing a new strain SLS-I proved tolerant to CLCV disease and so it was approved in 1995. High yielding cotton variety SLH-317 was developed in 2012 and in 2016 Bt. Cotton variety SLH-8 was approved for general cultivation. Moreover the Bt. Cotton variety SLH-33 is under the process of testing for approval.
Mission & Objectives
- Improvement in crop Yield
- Disease Resistance (CLCV)
- Drought Tolerance
- Insect Resistance
- Improvement in Fiber Quality
- Broadening Genetic Base
- Expansion of Gene Pool
- Early Maturity
- Varieties suitable for high plant population
- Heat Tolerance
Future Plan
- Germplasm maintenance and enhancement through exotic and local sources
- Development of cotton varieties having CLCuV resistance.
- Development of ideotypes suited for mechanical picking.
- Quality assessment of new cotton varieties to facilitate the breeders and to provide quality material to the industry as per the requirement.
- Utilization of cotton by-products and crop residues for value added products
- Research and skill oriented Human Resource Development
- Development of low cost production technology for small farmers
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