Pakistan's Crop....Cotton

 

Pakistan's Crop....Cotton


Cotton is an important cash crop grown in Pakistan, and contributes significantly to Pakistan's national economy and is an important source of livelihood for rural people (Pakistan, 2012-13). It is widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas, where there is a high risk of pests because some pests adversely affect the yield and quality of cotton. There are many requirements for high cotton yields, such as high inputs, fertilizers, pest control chemicals, highly drained soils and water, and their use degrades the environment in a variety of ways. The major impacts of high input lead to the emission of hot air and water pollution due to leaching (IPCC, 2006). In Pakistan, freshwater bodies are polluted by the flow and leakage of nitrates from agricultural land, and similarly, overuse and misuse of chemical pesticides also have serious effects on plants and animals. To achieve higher yields, the use of machinery has also strengthened the use of renewable energy. Farm management practices and the chemical and physical properties of agroecosystems and soils greatly influence the magnitude of environmental hazards, and the use of resources in various ways and their effects vary in this practice. In addition, the strong use of packaging, as a form of insurance for cotton production and quality, brings in higher production costs. Both the environmental risks and the high cost of cotton production challenge the sustainability and income of farmers in Pakistan; therefore, an analysis and measurement of the combined environmental impact and economic performance of cotton production is required. The question remains as to how environmental impacts can be minimized while the farmer's income continues. The problem associated with this study is trade between import consumption, environmental impact and economic activity in the cotton growing regions of Pakistan.

Cotton cultivation (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is a very widespread cultivation that requires the utilization of pesticides to protect the crop from pests, and synthetic chemicals are widely used for better plant growth. There are many factors that contribute to low cotton yields, but pests are highly regarded by biotic agents that not only deteriorate the quality of cotton production but also reduce yields. Farmers are unable to afford more protective measures due to the limited land grabbing in almost all developing countries, and their high consumption leads to environmental pollution. Another important factor in the cultivation of cotton is the plant germs, which are also considered a major threat in some areas, but their value is less than that of other substances, such as pesticides and agrochemicals. Weeds are the second most important biotic agent that jeopardizes the cotton crop because it interferes with the use of nutrients and environment, and affects cotton while creating competition. Despite advances in the control of these germs through chemical control, there has been significant loss of yield, reaching approximately 30 percent. The potential loss of inputs and weeds is fully calculated by 40 percent and 9 percent, respectively, of total losses caused by bacteria and viruses. Although large amounts of chemicals are used to make cotton, losses account for about 29 percent of the pest control measures used.

Yield protection has been enhanced by the increased use of chemical fertilizers and fertilizers on cotton crops, which has led to the full growth of the cotton crop. Today, agricultural production depends on the use of chemicals; indeed, it is a well-known and comprehensive approach to integrated pest management and, therefore, is an important part of agricultural systems. Synthetic chemicals help farmers to manage common pests easily and effectively which can be a major risk factor for lower yields. Contrary to this, chemical input into agricultural systems not only poses significant irreversible threats to society but also reduces the amount of water and land in the world. In addition, one of the main concerns regarding food supplies is the absorption of food and water contaminated by pesticide residues. Therefore, the social risks and the increase in pollution caused by these insects have increased steadily, thus increasing their resistance to their use. Despite major advances in the application technology of the application equipment, which has enabled farmers to use chemicals more efficiently, this use of technology has not been transferred to the everyday technology used in many developing countries.

At the same time, agricultural production can be affected by significant, negative consequences due to employee injuries. These types of side effects can be attributed to low farm productivity due to low farm labor availability, which can reduce workers' income due to low productivity or reduce family free time due to the time required to care for sick workers, or can increase the burden of healthy workers. In addition, the estimated cost of health care caused by pesticide use helps policy makers determine the negative effects of pesticide use on the overall reduction in terms of adverse effects on employees.

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