Punjab fails to meet cotton sowing target
The state has failed to achieve the target of bringing 3 lakh hectares under cotton crop due to inclement weather and farmers earning less than paddy. Cotton crop is mainly grown in Fazilka, Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar districts.
By May 31 (end of sowing season), the crop had been sown on about 1.75 lakh hectares (58 per cent of the target). Last year, the crop was sown in 2.48 lakh hectare against the target of 4 lakh hectare.
A senior agriculture department official said, “Initially, May 20 was fixed as the last date for sowing cotton. Later it was extended till 31 May. This year, cotton is being cultivated in about 1.75 lakh hectares. Fazilka is the only district which has performed better.
Fazilka Chief Agriculture Officer Jangir Singh said, “More than half the area under cotton crop is in Fazilka district. Cotton crop has been sown in 90,850 hectares against the target of 1.5 lakh hectares in the district. Canal water was made available to the farmers on time.
“This year, 33 per cent subsidy on cotton seeds also helped us. Though the weather played spoilsport, we brought maximum area under cotton crop.”
Farmers said though cotton fetched higher price than its minimum support price last year, they did not sow it due to whitefly and pink bollworm attack.
Gurdeep Singh, a cotton grower, said, “Most farmers are not aware of the latest damage control methods. The weather is unfavorable and some farmers have sown the crop again. Input cost has increased manifold."
Muktsar chief agriculture officer Gurpreet Singh said cotton has been sown in about 20,000 hectares against the target of 50,000 hectares in Muktsar district. There are many factors behind this, including rain and insect attack.”
“Farmers are opting for the paddy crop because of its higher yield and late-sown varieties. Last year, the average per acre yield of cotton stood at four to six quintals per acre and the price was Rs 7,500 to Rs 8,000 per acre,” he said. However, the yield of paddy reached 30 quintals per acre and the MSP was Rs 2,060 per quintal.
