Bathinda
For the first time in six years, the
cultivated area for cotton in Punjab during this Kharif season has crossed the
mark of 3 Lakh hectares. This marks an increase of 17% as compared to 2020.
Punjab is still 41% short of the golden phase that was achieved in 2011-2012
when the area under cotton was 5.2 Lakh hectare Bathinda has seen progress of
15,000 hectares in 2020 for Fazilka Tops followed by Mansa and Muktsar. As per
the data, the four major cotton-growing districts in Punjab had reduced the
area under cotton and gave preference to water-guzzling paddy. This is because
of the whitefly attack in 2015.
According to
Paramjit Singh, Director, Punjab Agricultural University, the infestation of
deadly whitefly in 2015 harmed the cotton cultivation but the cotton growers
are gaining confidence as the pricing of cotton has been better in the last two
seasons.
As per a cotton
expert, farmers are now showing interest in paddy cultivation because of better
irrigation facilities in southern Punjab. This new farming preference has led to
over-exploitation of the groundwater and also resulted in poor quality of
water.
Jagtar Singh
Brar, Farmer, the farmers moved away from cotton cultivation due to weed
management. The de-weeding process in India is poor and newly developed
herbicide-tolerant Bt cotton is still not approved in India, he added.
Source – Hindustan Times
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