'Trained farmers raised cotton yield'

A training project of Cotton & Allied Products Research Foundation of Cotton Association of India has enabled over 800 farmers to raise crop yield by 15 per cent and cut production cost by 20 per cent, Executive Director O P Agarwal told NewsWire18 today.

He said the recently concluded 2007-08 farm training and development project at Chopda taluka in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra benefited 802 farmers through frontline demonstrations covering 1,029 acres.

"While the final yield data is awaited, preliminary results reveal that yield increased by around 15 per cent and a 20 per cent reduction in production cost achieved through the use of transgenic cotton," Agarwal said.

He said it is gratifying that the project yielded impressive positive results, apart from raising awareness of farmers about the scientific system of cotton farming to maximise productivity in a cost-efficient manner.

The training project imparted latest technologies of farm production, nutrition and pest management, and organic farming.

"Technologies demonstrated included use of seed of improved genotypes and resistant varieties, identification of beneficial and harmful insects, and use of bio-pesticides and agronomic practices to optimise yields," Agarwal said.