Back-to-back pest attacks, unpredictable weather patterns and unavailability of canal water for sowing have brought the cultivation inPunjabto almost naught. It is for the first time in decades that the area under the white gold has shrunk below 2 lakh hectares. Though the exact data is yet to emerge, it is estimated to drop to 1.75 lakh hectares this season.<\/p>\n
The downward trend had started after the first big whitefly attack on the crop in September-October 2015, but after 8 years, the interest of farmers towards this alternative to paddy is seen fast diminishing. So much so that the area under cotton cultivation in Punjab has reduced to one third in the last 15 years from 5.28 lakh hectares in 2008 to 1.75 lakh in 2023.<\/p>\n
Cotton is mainly grown in semi-arid districts of Bathinda, Mansa, Fazilka and Muktsar. It is also grown in small quantities in Faridkot, Moga, Barnala and Sangrur districts. As compared to Punjab, the cotton is grown on a much larger area in adjoining<\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"