As the genetically-modified cotton crop suffered extensive loss after whitefly pest damaged the crop last year, distressed farmers in Punjab are likely to sow cotton in nearly 1 lakh hectare less area this season.
However, in the neighbouring Haryana and Rajasthan, area under cotton could increase, trade body and farmers said.
“We are expecting cotton to be sown in nearly 16 lakh hectares across north Indian States in the upcoming sowing season [2016-17] as against 15.47 lakh hectares of the previous year,” Rakesh Rathi, president, India Cotton Association Limited (ICAL), told The Hindu on Wednesday, pointing out that in Punjab, the cotton sowing could dip as farmers are likely to prefer paddy (rice) over cotton this Kharif season.
In north India – Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan are the major cotton producing States.
In 2015-16, cotton was sown in 4.35 lakh hectares in Punjab while in Haryana its acreage was 5.86 lakh hectares. Rajasthan had an area of 5.26 lakh hectares under cotton. Cotton sowing will begin in mid-April in Punjab and Haryana.
Meanwhile, after last year’s extensive loss of Bt cotton crop, the Centre and States are recommending farmers to sow traditional non-Bt varieties and indigenous cotton in areas susceptible to high infestation of whitefly.
