Farmers of Muzarabani and Mt Darwin received warning from Agriculture Research Extension Services that they will be fined if cotton ratooning is continued in the district.
Recently, ratooning was witnessed on about 2800 hectares of land in both the districts.
As per the law, cotton stems must be rooted from the fields by August 21, every year. If this practice is continued, it would result in ban of cotton exports to international market.
If ban is imposed on the industry, it will not be less than five years.
The cotton obtained after ratooning is of poor quality and it is not accepted in international market.
These crops are feebler to pest and other diseases, especially to pink boll-worm.
The unavailability of seeds is major reason for carrying out ratooning. By doing so, large bolls will develop early as plant has deep root system.
As precautionary measure, awareness meeting is held in Muzarabani district and literature on cotton legislation is distributed to the involved districts.
In ratooning, cotton farmers do not cut cotton stems soon after harvesting as prescribed in law, intentionally leaving it to grow on its own at the arrival of the next rainy season for a second harvest.
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