CHANDIGARH: This cotton sowing season is prompting the people of Punjab to go for bed planting for the state's farmers. Besides promising proper, the method requires less water for germination and keeping weeds at bay. It is expected that more number of progressive farmers have switched to technology in this season.
As recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), sowing of bed plantation can be done by tractor driven tractor using bed planter with row to row distance of 67.5 cm and plant to plant distance of 60 cm. Farmers can give water to the crops in furrows and in the rainy season, the excess water also drains out through these furrows.
Agriculture director Gurvinder Singh said that bed planting cotton was a better method and farmers had shown interest in it this season. The department has held demonstrations for the farmers in various districts.
“Farmers in the state were motivated to switch to cotton from paddy to save groundwater. More farmers will opt for bed planting once they realize that it comes with benefits. The crop is easier to pick and they get better returns," said Dr Jaswinder Singh Brar, Plant Protection Officer.
