ICAR plans major push to protect North India's cotton crop from pests, climate change

Sirsa, Oct 11 (UNI) With cotton farmers in North India facing growing threats from pest attacks, unpredictable weather and rising cultivation costs, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has proposed a strategy to improve crop yields and protect farmers' incomes through artificial intelligence, pest-resistant seeds and modern farming techniques. The strategy was discussed at a high-level meeting at the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) Regional Centre in Sirsa, attended by leading scientists, agricultural officials from three northern states and private-sector representatives. Chairing the meeting, ICAR Deputy Director General (Crop Sciences) Dr D K Yadav stressed that improving cotton…