Despite all of the claims of the Punjab authorities that it decreased the location beneathneath water-guzzling paddy to sell crop diversification, cotton cultivation became plenty under the goal this season, whilst the precise time for sowing is over. In 4 cotton districts, most effective 2.12 lakh of the focused four lakh hectares have been blanketed through May 22, already past the encouraged closing date of May 15 stretched to May 20. The sowing keeps until May 31 despite the fact that the past due sown crop is vulnerable to pest assault like whitefly in 2015 and crimson bollworm in 2021, the worry of which has saved the farmers from developing cotton regardless of an all-time excessive rate of Rs 13,000 for every quintal. In the 2021 season, the insurance became approximately three lakh hectares.
The hole withinside the sowing goal is the widest in Bathinda and its neighbouring district of Mansa, wherein crimson bollworm had broken 60% of the crop ultimate season. Farmer Avtar Singh stated: “I sowed the crop in 4 acres, aleven though ultimate yr it became 9 acres.” Farmer Bakhshish Singh stated: “A worry of pest assault is at the back of much less sowing in Bathinda district.” The scarcity of canal water is any other massive motive at the back of the drop. Punjab has 8 cotton districts however 95% of the cultivation is in 4, which might be Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka, and Muktsar. Cotton covers 85,000 hectares in Fazilka, 52,500 ha in Bathinda, 42,000 ha in Mansa, and 32,000 ha in Muktsar.
Fazilka leader agriculture officer (CAO) Resham Singh stated the district`s goal became to cowl 1.03 lakh ha however the scarcity of canal water had compelled the farmers to attend however we count on them to cowl greater location withinside the ongoing week. Bathinda CAO Pakhar Singh stated the district`s insurance goal became 66,000 ha however it was hoping to attain 60,000 ha. Mansa CAO Manjit Singh stated the district`s insurance goal became 64,000 ha however the canal water disaster from April 29 to May 15 had compelled a number of the farmers to keep away from sowing. Muktsar CAO Gurmeet Singh stated a breach withinside the Sirhind Feeder canal had affected his district`s goal of overlaying 50,000 ha however the farmers will try and get better as plenty as feasible withinside the ongoing week. Faridkot, Sangrur, Barnala and Moga districts are small cultivators of cotton.
