BATHINDA: Running behind schedule, the Punjab agriculture department finally has started efforts for sowing cotton, the second biggest kharif (summer sown) crop of the state. Water has been released in almost all distributaries (water channels) barring some areas in Fazilka district, and is expected to reach the tail-end villages by Wednesday. The Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has been directed to provide uninterrupted power supply and seed companies have been asked to provide inputs to farmers at their doorsteps.
The department is mulling the option of making announcements from the public address systems of gurdwaras in villages about the availability of seeds. The state government has set a target to bring about 5 lakh hectares under cotton this season, from 3.90 lakh hectares in 2019 season. Ideal time for cotton sowing is considered from the first week of April to May 15 as the crop sown after that prone to pest and disease attack.
The sowing has much delayed due to late harvesting of the wheat crop and various restrictions in place to stop spread of coronavirus. All factors in mind, the agriculture department is all out to achieve the ambitious target though some officials feel it was a herculean task.
“As after four years, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) made purchases in marketing season, produce fetched Rs 5,200-5,350 per quintal in open market, near the minimum support price of Rs 5,450 per quintal for long staple of 227.5-28.5 MM, more farmers are expected to return to cotton from water-guzzling paddy,” said an agriculture department official.
Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka, Muktsar are four districts with over 90% of the sowing. It is also sown in small stretches in Faridkot, Moga, Sangrur and Barnala. To achieve the target of sowing in 5 lakh hectares (12.5 lakh acres), 25 lakh seed packets of 450 gram are needed as two packets of seeds are used in one acre. The state government had arranged 21.5 lakh packets, and rest are in transit. Each packet of BT Cotton Bolgard II costs Rs 730.
On Monday, the canal water was released in various distributaries originating from Sirhind feeder, which caters to the needs of the cotton growing areas. In Abohar, Fazilka area the distributaries from Rajasthan canal carry water for crop sowing.
Farmer Ram Singh from Bhainibagha village in Mansa said the water had started flowing in distributary and wheat harvest was almost complete. Though it is late, but farmers are expected to start sowing in couple of days.
Punjab canal administration superintending engineer J S Bhandari said water had been released in majority water courses in the cotton-sowing areas and there would no shortage to the farmers.
“All arrangements for smooth cotton sowing and to achieve target has been put in place. Canal water has been released in various water courses, power availability has been ensured and seed companies have been asked to reach out to farmers. Now, the weather also seems favourable. We hope to get near the target in the middle of May or by the end of May till when crop can be sown,” Punjab agriculture director Sutantar Kumar Airi told TOI.
The department is mulling the option of making announcements from the public address systems of gurdwaras in villages about the availability of seeds. The state government has set a target to bring about 5 lakh hectares under cotton this season, from 3.90 lakh hectares in 2019 season. Ideal time for cotton sowing is considered from the first week of April to May 15 as the crop sown after that prone to pest and disease attack.
The sowing has much delayed due to late harvesting of the wheat crop and various restrictions in place to stop spread of coronavirus. All factors in mind, the agriculture department is all out to achieve the ambitious target though some officials feel it was a herculean task.
“As after four years, the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) made purchases in marketing season, produce fetched Rs 5,200-5,350 per quintal in open market, near the minimum support price of Rs 5,450 per quintal for long staple of 227.5-28.5 MM, more farmers are expected to return to cotton from water-guzzling paddy,” said an agriculture department official.
Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka, Muktsar are four districts with over 90% of the sowing. It is also sown in small stretches in Faridkot, Moga, Sangrur and Barnala. To achieve the target of sowing in 5 lakh hectares (12.5 lakh acres), 25 lakh seed packets of 450 gram are needed as two packets of seeds are used in one acre. The state government had arranged 21.5 lakh packets, and rest are in transit. Each packet of BT Cotton Bolgard II costs Rs 730.
On Monday, the canal water was released in various distributaries originating from Sirhind feeder, which caters to the needs of the cotton growing areas. In Abohar, Fazilka area the distributaries from Rajasthan canal carry water for crop sowing.
Farmer Ram Singh from Bhainibagha village in Mansa said the water had started flowing in distributary and wheat harvest was almost complete. Though it is late, but farmers are expected to start sowing in couple of days.
Punjab canal administration superintending engineer J S Bhandari said water had been released in majority water courses in the cotton-sowing areas and there would no shortage to the farmers.
“All arrangements for smooth cotton sowing and to achieve target has been put in place. Canal water has been released in various water courses, power availability has been ensured and seed companies have been asked to reach out to farmers. Now, the weather also seems favourable. We hope to get near the target in the middle of May or by the end of May till when crop can be sown,” Punjab agriculture director Sutantar Kumar Airi told TOI.
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