Punjab sets target of 3.20 lakh hectares

Bathinda: The Punjab state agriculture department has started preparing for the upcoming cotton sowing season that normally starts by April end and continues throughout May. Usually time around May 15 is considered as ideal sowing time for the crop.

The department this year has fixed the target of cotton sowing in 3.20 lakh hectares in comparison to 2.83 lakh hectares last year.

The cotton is sown in Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar, Fazilka, Faridkot, Barnala, Sangrur and Moga districts. The agriculture department is concerned to stop any probable attack of pink bollworm and whitefly on cotton crop during the season and for that it has directed various departments regarding eradication of weeds from cotton sowing areas.

Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) has recommended 90 varieties of cotton seeds and the state agriculture department has directed the district chief agriculture officers to keep tab on spurious and non-recommended seeds brought from Gujarat. In a meeting held on Wednesday, the chief agriculture officers have been directed to keep check on trains coming from Gujarat.

Director of the Punjab agriculture and farmer welfare department Sutantar Kumar told TOI, “We have pulled up socks and have asked the chief agriculture officers of eight cotton sowing districts to ensure that area under cotton increases as per targets fixed. They have been directed to check any sale of spurious seeds and ensure that weeds are uprooted to stop any attack of pink bollworm or white fly. The agriculture officers have also been asked to hold camps in villages and spread awareness among growers. We have started arranging 20 lakh packets of cotton seeds.”

He added that the agriculture department would take help from police as well to ensure no spurious seed was sold or brought in the state from Gujarat.