Ginners and Cotton Factory Owners Worried About Declining Crop Area
This year, the area under cotton cultivation has fallen below one lakh hectares, despite the state government's target to increase it to two lakh hectares. The Punjab Cotton Factories and Ginners Association is calling for the establishment of a Cotton Development Board to systematically address the issues plaguing the state's cotton industry.
The drop in cotton cultivation is attributed to infestations of pink bollworm and whitefly, leading to significant challenges for cotton factories and ginners in the state. The proposed Cotton Development Board aims to streamline efforts and provide targeted solutions to bolster the sector.
An interaction was organized between the Punjab Cotton Factories and Ginners Association and scientists from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) under the chairmanship of Dr. S.S. Gosal, Vice-Chancellor of PAU. The meeting aimed to address pressing issues faced by the cotton industry in Punjab.
The association's delegation included Bhagwan Bansal, President; Janak Raj Goel, Vice-President; Pappi Aggarwal, Director; and Kailash Garg, Vice-President of the Punjab Cotton Factories and Ginners Association, Bathinda. They expressed concerns over key issues impacting cotton cultivation in the region. Scientists from PAU and Regional Research Stations in Bathinda and Faridkot also attended.
Primary challenges highlighted included the decline in cotton acreage due to pink bollworm infestations, inconsistent supply of high-quality seeds and pesticides, the need for timely canal water availability, and rising costs associated with cotton picking. The delegation also emphasized the urgency for early access to pink bollworm-resistant transgenic cotton hybrids and varieties.
In response, Dr. Gosal assured that PAU is conducting trials to evaluate new transgenic cotton varieties resistant to pink bollworm. He emphasized the extensive research and extension activities undertaken by PAU, including close collaborations with Punjab’s farmers. Dr. Gosal also highlighted the critical need for support from the cotton industry to bolster ongoing research at PAU.
Dr. A.S. Dhatt, Director of Research at PAU, stated that PAU rigorously evaluates and recommends suitable Bt cotton hybrids annually, tailored for the cotton-growing regions of the state. He underscored the importance of cultivating these recommended hybrids to enhance productivity and effectively combat pest-related problems.
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