Untimely rains cause damage to cotton in Punjab

Last week’s unseasonal rains have caused a loss to the tune of Rs. 3 Crore to the farmers in the cotton-growing districts of Punjab and have left many areas water-logged with farmers fighting over the drainage of flood water from their areas.

Around 15% surge was seen in cotton acreage this year in the state as cotton growers had fetched a good price for their crop last year.

‘Government was solely responsible for this damage as timely arrangements were not made to clean up the seasonal rivulets and drains passing through the cotton belt of the state. It caused havoc to the cotton crop. We expect a dip of around 5 lakh bales in the production of cotton this year.’ says Bhagwan Dass, President, Punjab Ginners and Cottons Associations.

Some areas are affected very badly and are facing a flood like situation. In such areas, the cotton plants were seen submerged in water and cotton balls have started falling down. The most affected areas are those, where farmers made a shift from paddy to cotton crop owing to high returns from the latter last year.

Ranbir Singh of Soochan village in Bathinda said that his entire crop has been submerged under water.Another farmer from Talwandi Sabo village said that rains have damaged 35 % of his cotton crop. Balbir Singh of Sangat village said that out of his 8 acres of cotton, around 25 % crops got damaged. Rachhpal Singh of Ghuduwala village of the Faridkot District said that about 20% loss has been caused to his crop by recent rains.

Dr. Tajinder Singh Barar of Krishi Vigyaan Kendra, Bathinda says that these rains have changed the estimates about production of cotton.

After undertaking a tour to flood affected areas on Tuesday, the Punjab Chief Minister Mr Parkash Singh Badal has announced to defer the Agricultural loans of the Co-operative societies in wake of the extensive damage caused to the crops and house property due to recent flash floods.