BT cotton cultivation on the rise in Haryana

Chandigarh, Apr 17 (UNI) In view of farmers' increasing interest towards BT cotton, it is likely to cover 90 per cent of the total area under cotton crop in Haryana this year.

Stating this here today, Agriculture Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha said with the BT cotton gaining popularity among the farmers the average per hectare produce of cotton had increased considerably in the state, benefitting the farmers.

Cotton was one of the major cash crops in the state, which was grown over an area ranging between 4.5 lakh hectares and six lakh hectares.

During the year 2007-08, the average per hectare production of cotton was 663 kg as against 283 kg in 1966-67, when Haryana was carved out as a separate state, he added.

He pointed out that the sowing of indigenous varieties of cotton should be completed by the end of April and that of American and BT cotton by the end of May.

Mr Chatha said special training camps would be organised to educate the farmers with regard to the sowing of cotton crop.

Frontline demonstration plot on cotton production techniques would be earmarked and agricultural inputs for these plots would be provided free of cost to the farmers.

Sowing machine and pneumatic cotton planters had been purchased by the department. Various programmes would also be organised to acquaint the farmers with the latest agricultural techniques, he added.

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