look news india
Cotton cultivation: The decreasing area of cotton in Punjab has distorted the agricultural data of the agriculture department in the state. Due to water shortage, the department was preparing to reduce the area of paddy, but now due to reduction in the area of cotton, the area of paddy will increase.
In the year 2023, the area of cotton cultivation in the state was 1.69 lakh hectares, which has come down to 96 thousand hectares this time. This is 79 thousand hectares less than last year. The main reason for this is the outbreak of pink and white blight disease on cotton, sale of poor quality seeds, use of low quality pesticides and non-receipt of crop compensation.
In such a situation, farmers can turn to growing more paddy. This will increase the area of paddy in the state. Farmers will also grow crops like Basmati, maize and moong. The paddy planting season in Punjab is starting from June 11. In such a situation, providing 8 hours of electricity supply is no less than a challenge for Powercom. In the first phase, only Muktsar Sahib, Faridkot, Mansa, Bathinda, Fazilka and Ferozepur will get 8 hours of electricity supply.
A ground report on the decreasing area of cotton in Muktsar, Fazilka, Bathinda and Mansa has revealed that there has been a huge decrease in the area under cotton cultivation compared to last year. Baldev Singh, Agriculture Development Officer, Fazilka, says that this time farmers have lost interest in cotton cultivation mainly due to pink bagworm attack and not getting the right price for the crop and they are turning towards other crops. The area under cotton cultivation in Bathinda has reached the lowest level in the last eight years.
