Climate, pests and alternatives are ruining cotton farming
2024-12-07 11:15:04
Cotton farming is being destroyed by the climate, pests, and substitutes.
BATHINDA : The area under cotton cultivation in Punjab has declined sharply over the past decade, owing to erratic rainfall, extreme temperatures during the growing season, pest infestations and a shift towards more profitable crops. Union Minister of State for Textiles Pabitra Margherita highlighted these challenges in a written reply to Punjab MP Raghav Chadha in the Rajya Sabha on Friday.
To address these issues, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has been implementing the Cotton Development Programme under the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) since financial year 2014-15. It aims to increase the production and productivity of cotton in its 15 major producing states, including Punjab.
Increasing the minimum support price (MSP) is the first measure, followed by timely water supply from canals, financial assistance during pink bollworm outbreaks and subsidy on seeds. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) organised training, field visits and demonstrations to disseminate best practices for managing pests and diseases. Under the crop diversification programme for the year 2024-25, it conducted 6,000 demonstrations to promote sustainable farming practices.
The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) plays a key role in stabilising cotton prices by procuring the crop at MSP when market prices fall below the threshold. However, the procurement volume has declined significantly in recent years, from a procurement of 3.56 lakh bales in 2019-20 to only 38,000 bales in 2023-24.
Chadha blamed climate challenges, pest infestation and soil degradation for the decade-long decline in Punjab's cotton crop. He asked the central government about its plans to address these challenges and provide targeted technical and financial support to promote sustainable cotton cultivation in the region. Minister Margherita acknowledged the decline and outlined initiatives, including higher MSP and financial relief, to aid farmers.
