Cold may bite Northern cotton crop

10 Jan '06

2 min read

The cotton crop could well be the first casualty of frost bites in the Northern belt of India. A sustained cold wave could also lead to pest attacks in several states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, as parts of these states received almost zero rainfall in past few months.

Apart from the ongoing cold wave and occasional frost bites, what could also harm the crop is a foggy condition as it affects the vegetative growth of young plants. Other important crops including wheat and oilseeds are reported to be progressing well.

For cotton, experts say that a slight frost in the full lifespan of a cotton plant could damage the crop. Sown in October, the cotton crop is in the middle of its life cycle.

A Kashyap, Director, Indian Materoloical Department (IMD) said that next two weeks could be crucial and will determine the shape of India's winter basket. In the horticulture sector, grape may suffer, as frost bites can affect it during its “frooting period”—at the last stage.

As part of a contingency plan, IMD suggested sprinkling of water to counter prolong dry spell. According to IMD during frost, a boundary smoking, is useful. If the crop is too sensitive to frost, the met office recommends mesh atop the field.

Meanwhile, oilseeds like mustard and soya have reported a good harvest. BV Mehta, secretary general, Solvent Extractor Association told that some of the oilseeds production in the country could actually record a bumper crop this year, unless the weather turns hostile.

More Textiles News - India...