The poultry sector is an important and vibrant segment of agriculture in Pakistan with a significant contribution to the national GDP (1.3%). Commercial poultry production in Pakistan started in the 1960's and has been providing a significant portion of daily proteins to the Pakistani population ever since. During its evolution the industry enjoyed promotional policies of the Government, but has faced several challenges such as disease outbreaks and retail price fluctuations. Despite its important role in the country's economy, not a single scientific study is available on its evolutionary history. The data available in this regard are scattered and lack reliability. This review is an effort to encompass the history of the overall growth of the poultry industry in Pakistan, its present status (2012 statistics) and future directions and challenges. This article may serve as the basic source of information on Pakistan's poultry industry achievements. It will also guide poultry experts and policy makers for developing strategic planning for further growth of the industry.

Species of Culicoides feeding on horses were investigated in Ibadan and Ilorin in the southwestern part of Nigeria using light, sticky and emergence traps. A totalof 2949 Culicoides consisting of 22 species were caught over a period of 22 months. Culicoides quinquelineatus was the most numerous, followed by C. imicola. The greatest proportion of Culicoides was caught with the sticky traps followed by the emergence traps during the period of moderate to heavy rains. Males were scarceand the proportion of fed females was generally low.

A significantly greater number of Culicoides was caught during the rains than during the dry season. The results are discussed within the context of previous investigations on Culicoides in Nigeria. The possibility of some species, especially C. imicola and C. quinquelineatus being vectors of African horse sickness is also discussed.

About 70 insects and five mites regularly or occasionally infest the cotton crop in subtropical Africa. The economic importance of these pests varies according to the climate and cropping pattern in the region. Cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover and yellow tea mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) as foliage feeders and three bollworms, Pectinophora gossypiella Saunders, Diparopsis watersi Roths, and Heliothis armigera Hbn., during boll formation and development, are major pests. Pesticides have been used extensively to suppress the pest populations and infestation levels in the crop. Natural enemies of certain pests occur in the region, nevertheless, their effectiveness in pest control is not well-known or fully exploited. Research on yield loss evaluation, pest ecology, varietal resistance and cultural practices is underway in several countries. Therefore, a global pest management in cotton is discussed in the context of local conditions and perspectives are highlighted.

Chilo spp. are among the most important stem borers of sugar-cane in the Old World. Chemical control is not very effective mainly because of the concealed habit of the borer larvae. Efforts have therefore mostly been directed to alternative methods of control such as cultural practices, varietal resistance, biological control and the use of sex pheromones. Varieties are not normally bred for borer resistance but very susceptible ones tend to eliminate themselves at the early stages of selection. Susceptibility is normally assessed on promising and released varieties. Classical introduction of exotic parasites has more or less reached a saturation point and biological control tends to be oriented towards the possible use of new or cross-bred strains. The importance of entomopathogens as a control component against Chilo spp. needs further studies. A great potential exists in the use of sex pheromones mainly as a means to disrupt mating, as shown by the promising results obtained through trials carried out in various countries. It is very important that the various methods of pest control available be used in combination with one another, taking into account the natural limiting factors of the environment. This would be an important contributing factor towards an objective of optimum yield at minimum cost in the management of Chilo spp. on sugarcane.

The pearl millet, Pennisetum americanum L., a major food crop in the Sahel, is regularly attacked by a complex of spike worms, of which Raghuva albipunctella De Joannis (Noctuidae: Lepidoptera) is the most common and abundant species. The research on taxonomy, economic importance, biology and ecology of spike worm and control measures used to suppress its populations is reviewed from 1972 (period of its first outbreak) to 1984. Further studies are proposed to develop a viable pest management strategy which would be effective, practical, economical and easily adopted by the farmers. The present paper also discusses the difficulties and possibilities of such approach in relation to subsistence farming systems.