Massive" damage to cotton crop feared in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh, Sep 1 (PTI) A whitefly pest attack has caused massive" damage to cotton crop both in Punjab and Haryana with farmers fearing considerable yield loss to the Kharif crop.

With both states asking growers to take remedial steps to prevent

damage, whitefly infestation has come as major blow to farmers at

a time when they had already faced huge financial loss when wheat

crop got damage due to inclement weather conditions early this year.

In Punjab, whitefly attack on cotton crop even assumed political

overtones as opposition Congress has sought CBI probe into the purchase

of "spurious" insecticides for the cotton crop, leading to heavy

loss to growers.

"As per initial reports, about 20-25 per cent of cotton crop is

under the grip of whitefly attack in the state (Punjab). As a result

of which, there will be a big yield loss to the crop," Punjab Agriculture

Minister Tota Singh said here today.

Total area under cotton in Punjab is about 4.50 lakh hectares with

crop being grown in Bathinda, Abohar (Fazilka), Muktsar, Ferozepur and Mansa.

"Maximum impact of whitefly attack is seen in Abohar, Fazilka and

Muktsar districts," the minister said adding that surveys have been

launched to assess the damage to cotton crop due to whitefly.

In some areas, attack of whitefly was so severe that farmers were

forced to uproot their crop.

"At about 6,000 acres of area have witnessed 100 per cent loss because

of whitefly attack," said the state agriculture minister.

Punjab Agriculture Commissioner B S Sidhu said the widespread attack

of whitefly was last witnessed way back in the year 1977 when heavy

crop damage was seen on cotton in the state.

In Haryana, the situation is no better. An official of Haryana Agriculture

department said that more than 80 per cent of 5.80 lakh hectares

of area have witnessed pest attack in 12 districts including Sirsa,

Hisar of the state.

As per initial reports, up to 25 per cent loss was feared at 4.47

lakh hectares of cotton area due to widespread attack of whitefly.

Farm experts have advised growers that late sown crop are at greater

risk for whitefly attack on cotton while high temperature and scanty

rainfall situations aggravate the severity of the pest