Punjab Fails To Achieve Cotton Output Target

Punjab has failed to achieve the target figure of 10 lakh bales in the cotton crop.

The state has contributed about 7 lakh bales which is about 25 per cent of the total arrival of 27 lakh bales in the mandis of the region of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

However, this year's cotton crop is definitely an improvement compared to the last year's dismal production of 5 lakh bales.

Another reason for the low cotton produce is the shrinking sowing area and diversification from the traditional crops.

The crop was sown in an area of 4.65 lakh hectares in Punjab against 5.62 lakh hectares and 7.27 lakh hectares in 1998-99 and 1997-98, respectively. The per hectare yield has however improved to 365 kg lint from 179 kg lint and 220 kg lint per hectare during 1998-99 and 1997-98, respectively.

"Cotton was a very popular crop some time ago in the south western districts of the state but because of the invasion of an uncontrollable pest called American Bollworm that the farmers have diversified to other crops and cotton is not as popular as it used to be," said Dr A S Dhatt, director, post harvest technology center, Punjab Agriculture University.

This leaf curl virus can be killed with proper pesticide provided spraying is done in the early stages.It cannot be killed if the spraying is not done in the early stages.