Contradicting the agriculture department’s claims of successfully mitigating pink bollworm attacks, cotton growers in Fazilka, Chandigarh, endured significant losses last month due to infestations.
In response, many farmers resorted to uprooting their crops, hoping to minimize further damage. Seeking recompense for their losses, the affected farmers are now looking towards the state government for support.
Approximately 93,000 hectares in Fazilka were designated for cotton cultivation, and the agriculture department estimates that 20,000 hectares suffered damage ranging from 50% to 75%, 100 hectares experienced a loss ranging from 75% to 100%, and the remainder saw damage below 25%.
Karan Partap, a farmer from Bandiwala village in Fazilka, expressed his frustration, highlighting that this is the third consecutive year their cotton crops have fallen victim to pests. Partap, along with other farmers, anxiously awaits the announcement of compensation from the state government, as the damage has forced many to abandon their fields.
Fazilka’s chief agriculture officer, Gurmeet Singh Cheema, acknowledged that in addition to the pink bollworm infestation, untimely rain showers also adversely affected the cotton crops.
The total area under cotton cultivation this season decreased to 1.73 lakh hectares, down from 2.48 lakh hectares in 2022, below the state’s target of 3 lakh hectares.
The disillusionment and frustration amongst farmers due to successive seasons of attacks by whiteflies and pink bollworms prompted many to transition to paddy cultivation instead. Sandeep Jakhar, the MLA of Abohar, confirmed that pink bollworms had damaged cotton crops in several areas within his constituency, causing a significant number of farmers to plough back their fields.
Pink bollworm infestations first emerged in Punjab in 2020, appearing on around 100 acres in Bathinda’s Jodhpur Romana area, and subsequently spreading to other districts. The following year witnessed severe damage from both whiteflies and pink bollworms across the state. In response, the state government allocated Rs 416 crore in 2021 to compensate cotton growers affected by pink bollworm attacks in Mansa, Sangrur, Bathinda, Muktsar Sahib, and Barnala districts. in Fazilka, Chandigarh, endured significant losses last month due to infestations.
In response, many farmers resorted to uprooting their crops, hoping to minimize further damage. Seeking recompense for their losses, the affected farmers are now looking towards the state government for support.
Approximately 93,000 hectares in Fazilka were designated for cotton cultivation, and the agriculture department estimates that 20,000 hectares suffered damage ranging from 50% to 75%, 100 hectares experienced a loss ranging from 75% to 100%, and the remainder saw damage below 25%.
Karan Partap, a farmer from Bandiwala village in Fazilka, expressed his frustration, highlighting that this is the third consecutive year their cotton crops have fallen victim to pests. Partap, along with other farmers, anxiously awaits the announcement of compensation from the state government, as the damage has forced many to abandon their fields.
Fazilka’s chief agriculture officer, Gurmeet Singh Cheema, acknowledged that in addition to the pink bollworm infestation, untimely rain showers also adversely affected the cotton crops.
The total area under cotton cultivation this season decreased to 1.73 lakh hectares, down from 2.48 lakh hectares in 2022, below the state’s target of 3 lakh hectares.
The disillusionment and frustration amongst farmers due to successive seasons of attacks by whiteflies and pink bollworms prompted many to transition to paddy cultivation instead. Sandeep Jakhar, the MLA of Abohar, confirmed that pink bollworms had damaged cotton crops in several areas within his constituency, causing a significant number of farmers to plough back their fields.
Pink bollworm infestations first emerged in Punjab in 2020, appearing on around 100 acres in Bathinda’s Jodhpur Romana area, and subsequently spreading to other districts. The following year witnessed severe damage from both whiteflies and pink bollworms across the state. In response, the state government allocated Rs 416 crore in 2021 to compensate cotton growers affected by pink bollworm attacks in Mansa, Sangrur, Bathinda, Muktsar Sahib, and Barnala districts.
