SAU, private sector conduct successful trials of heat and drought tolerant cotton varieties

HYDERABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Apr, 2026) In a significant step towards climate-smart agriculture, the Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam in collaboration with the private sector is conducting advanced field experiments on climate-resilient cotton varieties aimed at addressing the growing challenges of climate change, water scarcity and rising temperatures in Sindh.

According to the SAU spokesperson on Tuesday, under this joint initiative, three newly developed cotton varieties including Hataf, Ghouri and Ghazi, are being evaluated at the university’s Latif Farm experimental site in partnership with the Four Brothers Group. The trials are designed to test their performance under extreme heat stress, limited irrigation and disease pressure, particularly Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV).

A high-level delegation, including Vice Chancellor Engr. Prof. Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal, the former Chairman of the Pakistan Engineering Council and representative of the private sector Javed Saleem qureshi visited the experimental fields to assess crop performance.

During the visit, the crop, now at approximately two and a half months of growth, was observed to be in excellent condition, demonstrating vigorous vegetative growth, profuse squaring, abundant flowering and early boll formation, all indicating strong yield potential under stress conditions.

Agricultural experts noted that the ongoing trials reflect an important step towards developing climate-resilient cotton varieties capable of sustaining productivity under extreme environmental conditions.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Engr. Prof. Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal emphasized that climate change had emerged as one of the most serious threats to agriculture in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh where rising temperatures and water shortages were affecting cotton productivity.

He said that the collaboration between SAU and the private sector was focused on developing adaptable, high-yielding varieties that can withstand climatic stress while ensuring sustainable production. He added that if these traits were consistently validated, they could significantly enhance cotton productivity and strengthen the agricultural economy.

Former Chairman of the Pakistan Engineering Council Engineer Javed Saleem Qureshi stated that the tested varieties reportedly possessed heat tolerance above 50°C, drought resistance up to 30 days, resistance to Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCV) and the ability to produce over 40 maunds per acre within 120 days. He reiterated the commitment to providing farmers with advanced seed technologies tailored to local environmental challenges.

Director Farms Dr. Muhammad Mithal Lund, Public Relations Officer Gulsher Lochi, Dr. R.B. Vistro and other officials were also present on the occasion.