Cotton Farming: Paddy spoiled the game of cotton in Sirsa, 'white gold' found in the soil
2025-06-25 16:25:18
Paddy Cultivation Hits Cotton Hard in Sirsa
Cotton Farming: From 2003 to 2014, cotton was produced in large quantities in Sirsa and that period is called the 'golden period' of cotton. At that time, BT cotton seeds (BG-1 in 2003 and BG-2 in 2005) brought a revolution in production. Cotton cultivation was at its peak in the year 2011. At that time, cotton was cultivated in 2.11 lakh hectares and a bumper production of 9.56 lakh metric tonnes was achieved.
Sirsa district of Haryana was once known for cotton cultivation. It was once called 'white gold' here. But now the cotton fields are lying vacant here and farmers have started turning away from cotton cultivation. Cotton fields have turned into dusty fields because farmers are now interested in paddy cultivation. According to a report, paddy cultivation has overtaken cotton last year. While the area under paddy has increased, the area under cotton is shrinking.
In 2024, paddy will be ahead, cotton will be behind
According to the news of the newspaper The Tribune, in the year 2024, paddy will overtake cotton by a huge margin. While paddy was cultivated in 1.56 lakh hectares and more than 6 lakh metric tonnes were produced, cotton was cultivated in 1.37 lakh hectares and 4.3 lakh metric tonnes were produced. From 2003 to 2014, cotton was produced in large quantities in Sirsa and that period is even called the 'golden period' of cotton. At that time, BT cotton seeds (BG-1 in 2003 and BG-2 in 2005) brought about a revolution in production. Cotton cultivation was at its peak in the year 2011. At that time, cotton was cultivated in 2.11 lakh hectares and a bumper production of 9.56 lakh metric tonnes was achieved.
Pink bollworm and white fly enemies
The situation has started changing in the last five-six years. Cotton crops have been devastated by whitefly and pink bollworm infestations. Farming has worsened due to constantly changing weather and stagnation in seed technology. Farmers are now preferring paddy cultivation even in water-scarce areas. However, paddy cultivation is very demanding for water. According to the data of the Agriculture Department, cotton cultivation has declined from 2.09 lakh hectares in 2020 to just 1.37 lakh hectares in 2024. During the same period, paddy cultivation increased from 97,000 hectares in 2018 to 1.56 lakh hectares in 2024, and is estimated to cross 1.7 lakh hectares this year.
Temperature also became an enemy
Farmers say that when BT cotton was initially successful, it covered up a problem that was really a big challenge. BT seeds dealt with the bollworm, but pests started attacking it. Whitefly and pink bollworm are back, and there is no new generation seed. The pesticide lobby blocked BG-3. Now farmers have to face pest attacks every season. Because of this, many farmers have stopped cultivating cotton. Farmers have also blamed rising temperatures and high humidity levels for the increasing pest attacks.
Up to 90 percent of the crop was destroyed
Farmers do not forget how up to 90 percent of the cotton crop was destroyed due to pink bollworm in the years 2022 and 2023. Due to this, farmers suffered huge losses. Many farmers suffered losses of up to Rs 50,000 per acre. Some got insurance while some are still waiting for compensation. Dr. Anil Mehta, scientist in charge of the Central Cotton Research Institute in Sirsa, attributed the decline in cotton crop mainly to low yield due to pest attacks.
He said that after harvesting, farmers leave cotton stalks in the fields or at home, due to which the larvae survive and attack the next crop. Also, lack of water during sowing has a very bad effect on germination. At the same time, according to some experts, cotton seeds are still available but seeds of pest-resistant varieties are needed.
