Measures to boost cotton production in Punjab

CHANDIGARH, June 1: Cotton production in Punjab has been decreasing from 24.69 lakh bales in 1991-92 to 9.41 lakh bales in 1997-98. To find ...

CHANDIGARH, June 1: Cotton production in Punjab has been decreasing from 24.69 lakh bales in 1991-92 to 9.41 lakh bales in 1997-98. To find out various means to boost cotton production, the Punjab government has recently constituted special committees at Chandigarh and district and block-level committees in 7 districts of the cotton belt.

Districts of Muktsar, Faridkot, Firozepur, Bathinda, Mansa, Moga and Sangrur have these committees, consisting of cotton experts headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Chief Agriculture Officer respectively, including PAU experts and directors of agriculture.

This was announced by Pooran Singh Gill, Additional Managing Director, MARKFED, while addressing a seminar jointly organised by MARKFED, the agriculture department and Punjab cooperative department at Nihalsinghwala sub-divisional headquarter in Moga district on Saturday. The seminar was the 8th in the series.

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The additional managing director disclosed that during 1997-98, adequate steps were taken to tackle the menace of water-logging in areas of Muktsar district and the problem was likely to be eradicated by June 30 this year. The large areas after reclaiming, are being brought under cotton cultivation again.

This year, cotton is being sown in 7 lakh hectares and the state hoped to achieve the target of 22 lakh bales of cotton with the active cooperation of PAU cotton experts. Experts from the university and agriculture department have been guiding the farmers about effective pest management and recommended seeds and pesticides. They were also told about the effective usage of quality pesticides.

Dr Kartar Singh Brar, Chief Agriculture Officer while addressing the progressive cotton growers at the seminar, highlighted various facilities being provided by the agriculture department.

He also disclosed that during the current season, 10,000 hectares of land were being brought under cotton cultivation in Moga district and the production was estimated to be 3.15 lakh bales.

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It was also informed at the seminar that efforts were being made to increase the membership and facilities of availing an increased credit limit from the cooperative societies.

Dr Pooran Singh in his concluding remarks, stressed upon the need of proper coordination between the cooperative department, agriculture department and MARKFED. He also stressed upon the need for imparting education to the farmers by holding society level meetings.

Dr Gill also stated that MARKFED was Asia’s biggest cooperative body with the turnover of Rs 4,000 crore and was serving farmers since 1954. MARKFED, according to Dr Gill, was formulating quality pesticides which were, in no way inferior to any international agency. He said the secretaries of cooperative societies should come forward with revised indents immediately so that quality pesticides may be made available to farmers well in time.

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