White gold shines again in Punjab

The same 'white gold', which had indebted the farmers of Malwa belt in Punjab, is now breaking their debt trap and bringing back smiles on their faces.

Supported by favourable weather conditions, bountiful cotton crop un-effected by any pest attack in 5.8 lakh hectare of Punjab is expected to earn over Rs 15,000 per acre to the farmers.

According to the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) officials and North India Cotton Association, the produce of cotton crop is expected to cross the mark of 22 lakh bales of pressed cotton compared to previous year's nearly 17 lakh bales.

The produce is expected to cross 600 kg per hectare lit cotton mark which is the highest in the last 15 years,they say.

"Punjab had a bumper crop in 1989 and this is after 15 years that we expect it to be a bumper crop" said Ashok Kapoor, director (exports) of North India Cotton Association.

Officials of the state-owned Markfed too are enthusiastic and feel that looking to the present crop condition, it is the revival of the 'white gold' in Punjab.

It's because of Punjab that the whole north zone produce is likely to cross 50 lakh bales, which was 41.7 lakh bales last year, adds Ashok Kapoor.

Punjab had crossed the mark of 26 lakh bales in 1989 from 12 lakh hectare of land. However, the produce was affected by attack of American bollworm in 1998-99 and was reduced to 5 lakh bales. "This year we are expecting the farmers to remember the 1989 time with the same output with same inputs this year", adds Kapoor.

With regard to the spray of pesticides, the dealers rue that this year the sales of insecticides and pesticides have dropped substantially because of bt cotton and favourable weather.

"This year favourable weather conditions, better varieties and least use of pesticides have made the farmer happy" adds a senior CCI official.

The CCI is ready to handle the bumper crop.Though light showers are the need of the hour because of dwarfness of the crop to nearly 1 feet, excessive rain can lead to loss of crop" adds Kapoor.

The next ten days are crucial he said adding that while the weather has been kind till now this time. September rains can play a spoil sport.