The state government gave subsidy and the central government increased the price
The problems of the cotton farmers of Punjab are not taking the name of ending. In the entire season, sometimes due to crop failure and sometimes due to low price, the farmer is troubled. Now that the government of Punjab has announced a 33% subsidy on Bt cotton seeds to promote crop diversification, the central government has raised the price of Bollgard-II (BG-II) seeds by Rs 43 for a 450-gram packet is, and its price is being taken from Rs.810 to Rs.853.
Two packets of BG-II seed are required for one acre of land. It is expected to offer 33% subsidy to farmers who have seed complaints up to 5 acres, as beneficiaries will have to buy only certified varieties and upload bills on a portal to receive the amount in their bank. The market of those who sell spurious seeds without bills will be snatched away.
Spurious seeds and fertilizers were behind the frequent pest attacks on the cotton crop. “The subsidy will absorb the 5.3% increase in price in Punjab, but it will be difficult for the state agriculture department to increase the area under cotton,” claim farmers who have suffered two consecutive crop failures and They have very little purchasing power left. The state government has set a target of covering 3 lakh hectares under cotton, for which it is all set to provide canal water to cotton growers from April 1.
In the last two years, Punjab cultivated cotton in 2.5 lakh hectares each and produced 29 lakh quintals last season, while this season the production is expected to be only 8 to 9 lakh quintals. In the year 2019-20, the production was around 50 lakh quintals. In 2015 the pest attack started reducing the acreage along with the yield. Earlier, many farmers obtained Bt cotton seeds from Gujarat or approached direct marketers from various companies who made tall claims that the seeds were resistant to whitefly and pink bollworm.
A farmer from Bathinda said: “After two years of loss due to natural calamity or pest attack, we have decided to return to paddy cultivation. We cannot take more risks.” Director Agriculture Gurvinder Singh said, “Even though the Center has increased the price of BG-2 cotton, the subsidy from the Punjab government will nullify the effect. The subsidy is aimed at weeding out spurious seeds from the market. We hope to increase the area under cotton from 2.5 lakh hectares to 3 lakh hectares
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