Punjab vows to save cotton crop from whitefly pest

An inter-state consultative and monitoring committee has also been set up under the chairmanship of the vice-chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) to keep a close eye on the issue. The committee includes scientists from Rajasthan and Haryana and it has already conducted four meetings, as per an official spokesperson.

The scouts are surveying close to 1,000 villages and are responsible for 2 villages each. Research fellows have also been appointed to help PAU.

The agriculture department had also launched a weed control campaign back in February and formed pest surveillance team on district and block levels to surveys on a weekly basis, according to media reports.

PAU has also started awareness programmes and is organising training camps at village, district and block levels during the cotton season. Various demonstrations are also being carried out for farmers to make them familiar with new technologies that can help them combat whitefly pest.

Close to Rs 624.7 crore has been allocated for various schemes to protect the cotton crop from whitefly and all other types of pests.

The area under cotton cultivation has increased from 2.85 lakh hectares last year to 3.82 lakh hectares this year in Punjab. (KD)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India