'Growing cotton near orchards led to more whitefly attacks'

Growing cotton near kinnow orchards is one of the reasons behind the intensity of whitefly attacks on the crop, an official said today.
"Growing the crop in or near orchards is one of the reasons for the multiplication of whitefly pest on cotton crop as kinnow fruit orchards provide conducive conditions to the pest for its multiplication and help in increasing the intensity of the attack on the crop," said an official of the Punjab Agriculture Department.
It was visible in the recent attack of whitefly on cotton crop in Abohar area of Punjab, he said.
"Farmers go for inter-cropping despite being discouraged regarding growing cotton near orchards. But we cannot stop them as they want to make most out of the land," he added.

Punjab is one of the leading states in the country for producing kinnow, a citrus fruit crop.
This month, cotton crop was again attacked by whitefly pest in about 15 villages of Khuian Sarwar block of Abohar in Fazilka district.

The infestation of whitefly was spotted on 4,400 hectares of land, forcing the agriculture department to ask growers to spray chemicals on the crop.
"Out of 4,400 hectares of whitefly infested crop, only 160 hectares of land is now under the grip of pest as rest of the crop is now pest free," the official said.
With July and August months being considered conducive for whitefly infestation, the state agriculture department has been regularly holding training camps in villages and advising growers to spray chemicals on infested areas.

"We are alert and regularly taking required steps to prevent whitefly infestation.
"This year, the crop is good and we are looking at bumper output of nine lakh bales," the official added.
On July 15, a central team led by Plant Protection Advisor had visited Punjab to inspect and assess the impact of whitefly attack on cotton crop.
Area under this Kharif crop shrunk to 2.56 lakh hectares this season as against 3.39 lakh hectares last season.
Whitefly pest attack had caused widespread damage to Bt cotton varieties in Punjab and Haryana last year.
In Punjab, 1.36 lakh hectares out of total 4.50 lakh hectares of cotton acreage was ravaged by whitefly attack last season and the output had dropped by 40 per cent.