Plant protection and cotton belt research with Ghazi University

Overview & partnership context

Agrecir Global partners with Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan to conduct applied field research on biological pest management, cotton pest population dynamics, and sustainable farm management in the trans-Indus belt.

Located at the convergence of South Punjab and eastern Balochistan, Ghazi University occupies a strategic agronomic geography. The trans-Indus plains of Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur form a critical cotton corridor that bridges Punjab's intensive canal-fed agriculture with Balochistan's arid farming systems.

The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at Ghazi University works closely with local farming communities facing challenges from climate extremes, groundwater salinity, and resistant pest pressures. Agrecir Global collaborates with Ghazi University on regional field trials and smallholder training.

Key areas of collaboration

• Bollworm population trackingOperating pheromone trap networks across DG Khan and Rajanpur to map pink and spotted bollworm emergence patterns without spraying.
• Biological predator rearingMultiplying beneficial predatory insects (Chrysoperla carnea and Trichogramma wasps) in university labs for release in organic cotton plots.
• Arid soil organic matter enhancementResearching local crop residues and farmyard manure decomposition rates in high summer temperatures to optimise compost application.
• Field inspector internship pipelineRecruiting and training top agricultural graduates from Ghazi University as Internal Control Inspectors for Agrecir Global farm programmes.

Deliverables and fieldwork impact

Localized pest management solutions and a dedicated cadre of regionally rooted field officers who understand the specific soils, microclimates, and languages of the trans-Indus belt.