HAFED launches project to raise cotton yield

Chandigarh, June 29 (UNI) Aimed at increasing the per acre yield of cotton and upgrading its quality, the Haryana State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation (HAFED) today launched an innovative pilot project in the Sirsa district.

A HAFED spokesman said the project had been launched in association with the National India Textile Mills Association (NITMA), Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative (IFFCO) and District Administration of Sirsa.

In the first phase, the project would be launched in 10 villages of the district -- Jagmalwali, Chakerian, Jalana, Chormar, Kingre, Jandwala, Malikpura, Mithri, Tappi and Pippli.

NITMA which earlier used to adopt one or two villages at a time would now, with the association of Hafed, had taken up 10 villages to improve the productivity of cotton in the cotton growing belt of the state.

IFFCO was also providing computers and mobile sets to the scouts and scientists which would be connected with IFFCO headquarters to solve the farmers' queries speedily, he added.

He said it was expected that the increase of cotton in the villages adopted under this project would go up by 25 per cent from eight quintals per acre at present to around 10 quintals per acre.

The project, to be replicated in other villages, would not only ensure better return to the cotton growers, but would also increase the marketability of Haryana cotton in domestic and international market due to upgradation of its quality, he added.

UNI