Farmers Start Early Sowing of Cotton to Prevent Pink Bollworm Infestation

After a poor yield last season, farmers in the south Malwa districts have begun sowing the 'white gold' early in the anticipation of a better return this season, putting their hopes on the abnormally high temperature suitable for crop planting.

Cotton was sown on more than 2,500 hectares in the semi-arid districts of the region till Monday, according to information received from the region's semi-arid districts.

Punjab has set a goal of increasing cotton plantings by 23 percent to 4 lakh hectares in the 2022-23 Kharif season.

Fazilka leads the region's seven important districts with 1,600 hectares, accompanied by 310 hectares in Bathinda, 300 hectares in Mansa, and 153 hectares in Muktsar.

According to agriculture experts, seeding of the cash crop initially began this year since wheat harvesting was completed ahead of schedule.

Manjit Singh, the chief agriculture officer (CAO) of Mansa, said that the wheat harvesting occurred about two weeks ahead of schedule due to abnormally warm days. The mustard crop is virtually finished, and farmers should concentrate on growing cotton, which will pick up in the next 10 days. "

Early Sowing To Prevent Pink Bollworm Infestation

Farmers have been directed to pursue sowing from April 15 to May 15 as part of the pink bollworm infestation management strategy, according to proposals from an inter-state consultative and monitoring council comprising cotton-growing states Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

According to input from farmers and officials from the state agriculture and irrigation agencies, canals have started supplying water in most portions of the seven cotton-growing districts. 

Farmers want an uninterruptible supply of canal water and enough power to make irrigation through tubewells run smoothly so that they can finish sowing on schedule.

The current high temperature, according to Paramjit Singh, Director of the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) regional research station in Bathinda, is ideal for cotton seedlings.

He further stated that the pink bollworms caused significant harm to the cotton crop during the previous Kharif season. However, they were partially compensated by record market rates. Despite a huge loss in production in the 2021-22 season, field inputs suggest that farmers will be encouraged to stick to the traditional crop due to market trends.