Punjab Government Is Helping The Farmers In Pest Control

The cultivation of cotton crops has been decreased in Bathinda compared to the last year because of the white fly attack on the cotton crops. Due to the extensive damage to cottom crops by the white fly, farmers in Punjab are left with no choice but to grow Kharif crops. Even the government has asked the farmers to grow mode paddy, growth of which is expected to go more than one lakh up by more according to a senior official of Punjab Agriculture Department. Punjab had set a target of 28.50 lakh hectares of paddy. “The main reason behind rise in paddy will be the drop in acreage under cotton crops as farmers will divert that area towards rice,”, he added

Though the recent rain has bought some relief for the farmers in Bathinda and Mansa districts as it will be able to reduce the whitefly attack. After discussions between the monitoring committees formed by the Chief Secretary on filed visits, farmers were made aware about barrier crops to save cotton from whitefly. Chief Secretary also formed an interstate panel compromising of 10 members from the neighboring states to evaluate the pest attack and take the required measures.

Government has been making amendments in order to provide some relief to the farmers. Different seeds has been recommended by the PAU and have been asked to launch a concerted drive in the specific areas to control the spread of white fly. With this persuasion campaign has been started among farmers to sow barrier crops, namely, maize, jowar and bajra to prevent from pest attack.