PAU pointed towards reduction in area in cotton meat, made revival plan for Kharif 2026
LUDHIANA: Concerned over the continuing decline in cotton acreage in the northern states, experts and policymakers on Tuesday called for immediate action to revive the crop.
This concern was expressed at the meeting of the Interstate Consultative and Monitoring Committee on Cotton at Kheti Bhawan in Bathinda, which was chaired by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana Vice-Chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal.
Gosal said the area under cotton has declined from 7 lakh hectares in the 1980s to 1 lakh hectares in 2024. But due to the efforts of the state government, the area increased to 1.19 lakh hectares. He said that this year's target is 1.26 lakh hectares.
Gosal expressed concern over the continuous decline in cotton area. He linked this trend to increasing biotic and abiotic stresses, infestations of pink bollworm, whitefly and cotton leaf curl virus as well as changing weather patterns. He outlined a clear roadmap for the Kharif 2026 season, emphasizing timely availability of good quality, recommended seeds and subsidies on Bt cotton to encourage farmers to adopt it. He stressed the importance of a sure supply of canal water for irrigation before sowing, calling it vital for creating a healthy crop stand. He said that balanced fertilization should be promoted to increase productivity. Dr. Gosal urged all stakeholders to work together to deal with insect pressure and bring back profits to cotton.
