Pakistan, Feb. 8 -- The agriculture experts urged farmers to strictly implement off-season management practices before sowing early cotton to protect the crop from the attack of pink bollworm which is a highly destructive pest that severely reduces yield and deteriorates cotton quality.

A spokesperson for the Agriculture (Extension) department said that the off-season management of pink bollworm was imperative as this pest has no alternate host plant, making it possible to effectively destroy its population through timely preventive measures.

He said that proper off-season practices could help protect the upcoming cotton crop from infestation and avert potential production losses.

If cotton sticks were to be stored for use as fuel, the...