Cotton crops get affected in Punjab

Extreme heat conditions, shortage of canal water supply and genetically modified (Bt) seeds, have casted their shadow on cotton area in Punjab.

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 532,500 hectares this season.

The shortage of canal water supply and extreme heat conditions has delayed the sowing of cotton crop by a few weeks in Punjab, the deadline of which expired on May 15. Generally, sowing of cotton starts from April 15.

Earlier while speaking to Business Standard, officials, maintained that despite delay in sowing the total area under cotton cultivation would touch 550,000 hectares this season as compared to 511,000 hectares last year. Also, according to the state government estimates the targeted production was 230,000 bales this year in comparison to total production of 2.06 million bales last year.

As a major portion of the area depend on canal irrigation and taking cognizance of the problem, the state government also issued number of new tubewell connection to avhieve the designated target. However, the state has witnessed marginal increase of 4.2 per cent in area, compared to last year against the designated target of 7-8 per cent.

According to the officials, the extreme weather conditions has largely affected the cotton sowing in the state. The maximum temperature in the northern region during the sowing season was hovering at 42 to 43 degrees Celsius, which is four degrees above normal. Agriculturists maintained that temperature above 40 degrees is not suitable for the cotton crop.

Sources added 95 per cent of the area would be under Bt cotton. On being asked the reasons, behind increase in area, they said last year again there was windfall gain for the cotton growers of Punjab, as they were getting better price. The average price of medium staple cotton in the state was ruling above the MSP of Rs 2,800 per quintal 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. Regions such as Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa, Ferozepur, Moga, Faridkot, Sangrur and Barnala districts are rich in cotton.

The present agriculture cropping pattern in the state is dominated by the wheat paddy rotation. Wheat and paddy cover major portion of the agricultural sector. These two crops have increased to 77 per cent in 2006-07 from 47 per cent in 1970-71.