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Punjab farmers uprooting cotton crop in fear of whitefly!

While farmers in parts of Punjab have started uprooting cotton crop fearing attack of the whitefly pest, officials from the State government and the Centre are regularly visiting the cotton-belt to monitor the situation.

The pest attack, which caused extensive damage to Bt cotton crop last year in Punjab and Haryana, had been reported to be present this year too in a few villages of Malwa region mainly Fazilka district of Punjab. Farmers are worried that there could be increased infestation if the current hot and humid weather conditions continue to prevail for the next 15-20 days. Meanwhile, an increase in jassid pest attack which also sucks the crop like whitefly is worrying farmers in parts of Mansa and Bathinda districts.

After facing farmers’ wrath in the poll-bound State last year, ruling Akali government and the Centre are taking no chances. A steam of officials and experts touring the cotton belt for surveillance held a review meeting Jasbir Singh Bains, Director, Punjab Agriculture Department said that his department has been able to control the spread of whitefly this season as it was limited to 132 acres in a few villages. But the next 20 days or so are critical. If it rains, it will be good for the crop. Bains is a part of the expert team.

Whitefly attack caused extensive damage to Bt cotton varieties last year in Punjab and Haryana, resulting in a drop of nearly 40 per cent in production. Bt cotton accounted for over 98 per cent of the total cotton sown last year in both the States. The remaining two per cent was the indigenous cotton varieties. This season too, Bt cotton accounts for over 93 per cent of the total cotton sown. After the losses they suffered last year due to whitefly attack, farmers in both Punjab and Haryana have planted less cotton this year. In Punjab, the area has shrunk from 4.50 lakh hectares last season to 2.56 lakh hectares and in Haryana, cotton has been sown in 5 lakh hectares this year, against 5.80 lakh hectares last year.

 
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