Pakistan, July 17 -- The agriculture experts have sensitized the cotton growers and advised them to adopt an aggressive pest-monitoring strategy and ensure timely preventive measures to protect their crop from whitefly, jassid, thrips and pink bollworm attacks because negligence at this crucial stage could significantly affect cotton yield and quality.

According to spokesman of agriculture (extension) department, the farmers should conduct pest scouting in cotton fields at least twice a week and eliminate weeds in and around the fields to prevent breeding and spread of harmful insects. The growers should also control whitefly populations on alternative host crops and ensure timely irrigation as moisture-stressed plants are more vulnerabl...