Punjab: Cotton in crisis : Incessant rains dampen hope of good crop, 20 thousand acres of cotton affected.
The first harvest of cotton has begun in some parts of Punjab, but unfavorable rains for the major kharif crop have left farmers worried about financial losses.
According to information received from the field, more than 20,000 acres of land under cultivation have been adversely affected by waterlogging.
Wet climatic conditions have exposed the crop to fungal attack, while as the crop moves towards mass harvest, an infestation of the deadly pink bollworm is also looming. Agriculture officials said a good crop was expected, but rains lashed the region, reducing the chances of revival of the cotton crop in the parched Malwa region.
Official information revealed that Mansa has been the most rain-affected district, with more than 13,500 acres of cotton crops affected.
In Fazilka, 6400 acres of cotton fields have been completely damaged due to waterlogging, while other areas of the Abohar region of the district are also likely to suffer crop loss due to rains in the dry zone.
Harpreet Kaur, Chief Agricultural Officer (CAO) of Mansa, said that repeated rains in the last week have affected the cotton crop. Our field teams are advising farmers on damage control, which is in the final stages of harvesting," said Kaur. She added that dewatering of the fields can bring relief only if there is no rain again at this critical juncture.
Cotton farmer Jasdeep Singh said, "Rains are becoming a serious threat to the crop." Abohar Agriculture Officer Parminder Singh Dhanju said that more than 6400 acres of cotton has been damaged in Saidanwali, Khuiyan Sarwar, Alamgarh, Dewan Kheda and surrounding areas.
Heavy rains on August 4 flooded the sandy fields, killing the plants. "The first harvest of cotton has started and the cotton buds are being attacked by fungus due to the recent rains," Dhanju said.
*Minor impact in Bathinda and Muktsar.*
According to Chief Agriculture Officer Jagdish Singh, many areas have seen outbreaks of pink gorse and this attack may spread further. The official said that there has been limited impact on the kharif crop due to low rainfall in Bathinda.
Prolonged cloudiness has increased its effect, but there has been no widespread adverse effect on the crop. We are hopeful that the cotton crop in the district will be better this time," he said.
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