Impact of cotton diseases on yield: Farmers’ knowledge and management practices in Pakistan’s core cotton zone

Abstract

The yield of cotton in Pakistan remains well below its potential and lags behind that of major cotton-producing countries such as India, China, the United States, and Brazil. Although several factors contribute to this gap, the role of diseases, despite their significant impact on yield and quality, has not been adequately examined. Therefore, this study was conducted in the core cotton-growing zone of Punjab, with the district Rahim Yar Khan selected as the study area. A total of 392 randomly selected cotton growers and agricultural experts, including Assistant Directors and Agriculture Officers, were interviewed through face-to-face surveys. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS, while qualitative data were examined through content analysis. The Chi-square test was applied to test the study hypotheses. The results revealed that Cotton Leaf Curl Virus (CLCuV) was the most widely recognized disease, whereas awareness of root rot and boll rot was relatively low. Awareness of Verticillium wilt, collar rot, bacterial leaf blight, and para wilt was also limited. However, CLCuV, Verticillium wilt, and root rot were perceived to have a severe negative impact on cotton yield. High pesticide costs and poor-quality products, the cultivation of uncertified varieties, erratic rainfall, temperature fluctuations, and inappropriate spraying practices were found to significantly contribute to ineffective disease control (P < 0.05). Furthermore, socioeconomic characteristics, particularly age and education, were significantly associated with farmers’ awareness of cotton diseases. This study recommends the implementation of intensive awareness campaigns and the promotion of sustainable disease management strategies to improve cotton productivity.