Last Updated: 03 Aug 2024
Cotton, also called White Gold, has the potential to cultivate around 8 lakh hectares of cotton in Punjab and can be a big alternative for paddy crop
Since 2015[1]: The farmers have lost confidence in the crop after failed cotton crops & heavy financial loss due to pest attacks[2], fake seed[3] & pesticide scams[4]
Long Process of restoring Confidence Started
Season 2023: From Seed subsidy to ensuring quality seeds to timely canal water, Punjab Govt made efforts to break the farmer disappointment cycle
IMPACT 2023:
-- 50% Higher yield per acre: 10% Higher Total Production despite 30% Lower cultivation area[5]
-- ~1000 Rs avg price higher than last year[2:1]
-- Punjab cotton farmers break the pest attack jinx after 3 consecutive years of crop damage[2:2]
Groundbreaking achievement in Aug 2024: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, has become 1st research institute globally to successfully incorporate resistance against prevalent Diseases
Punjab Govt also urged Centre to approve next generation BG-III Bt cotton for sowing in July 2024[7]
The process to restore confidence has begun by Punjab govt in 2023
Handholding farmers towards Cotton
Budget 2023-24 & 2024-25[8]
Timely Canal water after decades[1:1]
The Punjab government releasing water in the canals on time since the beginning of April 2023 after decades. Details below:
Special "Mission Unnat Kisan"[9]
Year 2022-23: Cotton crop per hectare was 45% less than the year before
| Year | Cotton Area (lakh hectare) |
|---|---|
| 1991-2001 | 4.77 - 7.19 |
| 2001-2011 | 5 - 6 |
| 2011-2020 | 2.68 - 5.11, lowest in 2018-19 |
| 2021 | 2.52 |
| 2022 | 2.48 |
| 2023+ | 1.75 |
| 2024+ | 0.966[11] |
+3 Consecutive seasons 2020, 2021 & 2022 had cotton crop damage due to pest attacks[2:3]
2024 Declining Trend across all North Indian states[12]
Punjab saw only 97,000 hectares of cotton in 2024
Rajasthan: Area under cotton reduced from 8.35 lakh hectares in 2023 to 4.75 lakh hectares 2024
Haryana: Area under cotton went down from 5.75 lakh hectares in 2023 to 4.50 lakh hectares in 2024
References:
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/punjab-area-cotton-decrease-8660696/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/104330395.cms ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
https://yespunjab.com/punjab-seed-scam-sad-pegs-loss-at-rs-4000-crore-demands-compensation-for-farmers/ ↩︎ ↩︎
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/pesticide-scam-aap-demands-tota-singhs-resignation-legal-action/articleshow/49273694.cms ↩︎ ↩︎
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-cotton-production-surges-dip-area-9296323/ ↩︎
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/punjab-urges-centre-to-approve-bg-iii-bt-cotton-for-sowing/article68420938.ece ↩︎
https://news.abplive.com/business/budget/punjab-budget-rs-1-000-cr-for-crop-diversification-bhagwant-mann-led-aap-govt-to-come-out-with-new-agriculture-policy-details-1587384 ↩︎
https://jagratilahar.com/english/punjab/96426/Visionary-budget-to-boost-agriculture-allied-sectors-in-punjab-gurmeet-singh-khudian ↩︎
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/coverage-cotton-crop-punjab-8649819/ ↩︎
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-cotton-production-faces-slow-death-9376210/ ↩︎
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/crop-diversification-hit-as-pest-attacks-force-punjab-farmers-to-shift-from-cotton-to-paddy-9457410/ ↩︎
