Despite the downpour in Punjab, early rains caused by Cyclone Biperjoy in the upper part of the north helped the growers
Cotton crop in North India is under threat of Pink Bollworm (PBW) attack and the intensity of pest attack has been observed more this year as compared to last two years.
While PBW in cotton during kharif 2022-23 in the north was observed only towards the end of the season, this year the pest has surfaced at the beginning of the season, posing a major threat to farmers, said Bhagirath Chowdhary, director, Jodhpur. -based South Asia Biotechnology Center (SABC).
Generally, PBW affects the crop in the middle and late stages leading to reduction in yield and quality. Till 2017-18, India's northern cotton-growing region was free of PBW infestation, but in 2018-19 and the following years, pest attacks were reported from Jind and Bathinda above the Economic Threshold Level (ETL).
cut coverage
Despite the decline in coverage in Punjab, the area under cotton has increased to 16.17 lakh hectares (LH) from 15.44 lakh hectares in the northern region comprising Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Badly hit by attacks from pests such as whiteflies and pink bollworm in recent years, farmers in Punjab have reduced the area to 1.7 lakh per hour from 2.54 lakh last year.
In Haryana, farmers have increased the coverage of cotton to 6.65 lakh hours from 6.45 lakh hours a year ago. This year, early rains caused by Cyclone Biparjoy have helped farmers in Rajasthan increase acreage to 7.82 lakh hectares, up 21 per cent from 6.45 lakh hectares a year ago. As on August 11, the total area under cotton stood at 121.28 lakh hours, marginally lower than 122.53 lakh hours a year ago.
According to the ICAR-Central Institute for Cotton Research, in early sown areas like Bhatinda and Faridkot in Punjab, the cotton crop is at flowering and boll formation stage and the incidence of PBW was close to ETL of 5-12 per cent.
lowering the key causes damage
Outbreaks of white fly and cotton leaf curl virus were observed at some places. In Hisar and Sirsa of Haryana, pink bollworm infestation in flowers and green bolls was observed above ETL level at many places. In other cotton-growing areas, the crop is at the vegetative stage.
The SABC through its Project Bandhan has been regularly surveying cotton fields in the north and found that the pink bollworm is more prevalent in green bolls. “It is a matter of great concern that the incidence of pink bollworm has been observed across the Northern Territory this season. We should take necessary steps for the management of pink bollworm at the earliest so that the damage caused by pink bollworm in cotton can be reduced.
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