Technology-Transfer Gap Cause Of Low Cotton Yield Levels

India's average cotton yield is one of the lowest in the world.

As compared with other countries, the yield per hectare in the irrigated area in India is also lower. Even in Punjab, where there is almost 100 per cent irrigation, the yield is lesser as compared with neighbouring Pakistan.

In Pakistan, the type of soil, climatic conditions and irrigation facilities are more or less similar.

A high level meeting was held under the chairmanship of Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal last month to take stock of cotton yield in the state. Causes for the low yield were pointed out as: paucity of good quality seeds and pesticides and gap in technology transfer to farmers.

 

Quality seeds: The total seed requirement is estimated at 150,000 quintals.

However, with the present infrastructure available with the Punjab State Seed Corporation (PSSC), only about 15,000 quintals are produced.

The PSSC proposes to produce 50,000 quintals by 2001 under the assumption that the ideal seeds replacement ratio (SRR) is 33 per cent. SRR refers to the conversion of existing seeds into plantations.

However, M B Lal, chairman-cum-managing director of the Cotton Corporation of India Ltd (CCI) said it is desirable to have 100 per cent SRR since farmers cannot keep their own seeds.

The CCI is prepared to fund the entire shortfall of quality seeds for Punjab.

On the seed varieties it should support for production of seeds during 1997-98, it was agreed in the meeting that CCI should go in for those of F1054, F846 and the new variety, F1378. The Cotton Corporation is of the view that `good seeds should have good quality fibre'.

Lal insisted that representatives of CCI should be included in the committee for consideration of release of varieties to take care of interests of trade and end-users.

Quality pesticides: There was considerable debate on supply of quality pesticides which can go a long way in management of pests particularly American bollworm and whitefly which are one of the reasons for poor yield in Punjab. Lal said that CCI is prepared to distribute quality pesticides at cost to the farmers in a big way, but he is facing a problem of non-cooperation from the private pesticide manufacturers in supply of pesticides on the same terms and conditions to their distributors and dealers.

The chief minister has suggested that MARKFED can help CCI in the distribution of quality pesticides by offering pesticides to CCI. Accordingly, Markfed agreed and convened a meeting during the beginning of the current month to work out the details.

Co-operative Credit Society also will participate in the meeting to study the possibilities of supplying pesticides on credit to the farmers, particularly for the last two sprays.

There was demand to have new type of tractor mounted sprayer which are more efficient and can cover 200 to 300 acres.

Technology transfer: Lal spelt out the need for technology transfer through Village Adoption Programme (VAP) in Punjab and mentioned the CCI's village adoption programme and their willingness to enlarge the programme substantially provided the Punjab government helps in identifying villages under one variety-one village concept. The director of agriculture has promised to help CCI in identifying large number of villages for adoption during 1997-98.

It was, however, felt by the state government that identification of village with only one variety will be difficult and urged CCI for relaxation of this condition where in a village with a compact area of 200/300 acres is under one variety.

R & D Projects : CCI also offered to fund R&D projects to Punjab Agriculture University for (a) development of a superior medium staple variety with short duration and resistance to pests and (b) project on integrated pest management. Vice-chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University will send project proposals to CCI for the consideration.Lal offered all assistance in respect of extension and marketing of cotton to Punjab government for improvement of cotton production and productivity in Punjab.

Crop surveillance: The CCI undertakes crop surveillance in association with the State Department of Agriculture and State Agriculture University in Punjab with the following objectives : (1) to identify causes for impairment of growth and development of growth and development noted during survey and advise farmers to take remedial measures, (2) to monitor pest and diseases of the crop and suggest plant protection measures, (3) to give farmers advice regarding clean picking, and (4) to assess the size of the crop on the basis of health of the crop.