Punjab: Area under cotton to touch 530,000 hectares

Better remuneration for the crop, coupled with favourable weather conditions, is likely to push the acreage under cotton in Punjab this year. The state is expecting the total area under cotton would touch 530,000 hectares this year, as compared to 483,000 hectares last year, an increase of about 10 per cent over last year. Also, the state is targeting a total production of 2,080,000 bales this year as compared to 1,822,000 bales last year.

Already, cotton crop has been sown in 10 per cent of the total designated target and the sowing is likely to be completed by this month. Generally, sowing of cotton starts from April 15.

Last year, extreme heat conditions, shortage of canal water supply and Bt seeds, has casted its shadow on Cotton area in Punjab. Not only the sowing was delayed but also the state has missed the designated target of 550,000 hectares. According to the state government data, the total area under cotton cultivation stood at 483,000 hectares last year, as compared to 511,000 hectares during the previous season.

According to the officials, the extreme weather conditions has affected the cotton sowing in the state last year. The maximum temperature in the northern region during the sowing season was at around 42 to 43 degrees celsius, which was four degrees above normal. Agriculturist maintained temperature above 40 degrees is not suitable for the cotton crop. But unlike last year this year, the temperature is less than 40 degree celsius during the current sowing season.

Sources added, 95 per cent of the area would be under Bt cotton. On being asked the reasons, behind increase in area, he added,” Last year again there was windfall gain for the cotton growers of Punjab, as they were getting better price for their produce. The average price of medium staple cotton in the state was ruling much above the MSP in different mandis of the state. This prompted the farmers to opt for high yielding varieties to replicate the rich harvest. Moreover, we have organised awareness seminars with farmers to take up cotton cultivation as it consumes less water as compared to Paddy. The region comprising Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa, Ferozepur, Moga, Faridkot, Sangrur and Barnala districts are cotton growing.”

It is worth mentioning that the present agriculture cropping pattern in the state is dominated by the wheat paddy rotation. Wheat and paddy cover major portion of the gross cropped area as area under these two crops has increased to 77 per cent in 2006-07 from 47 per cent in 1970-71.