Punjab Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department has deployed four senior officers in the Muktsar, Bathinda, Fazilka, and Mansa districts.
Published Aug 21, 2023 | 1:00 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 21, 2023 | 1:00 AM
File photo of the pink bollworm. (Wikimedia Commons)
The Bhagwant Mann government has sprung into action mode in a bid to help farmers fight pink bollworm attacks in Punjab’s cotton belt.
Punjab Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department has deployed four senior officers in the districts of Muktsar, Bathinda, Fazilka, and Mansa to that end.
The state government also cancelled the holidays — including Saturday and Sunday — for the officers and other staff of the agriculture department posted in these four districts till the end of this month.
Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said on Sunday, 20 August, that the cancellation of holidays came in the wake of reports regarding pink-bollworm attacks on cotton crops in the villages in the Bathinda district.
“We have ordered four senior officers to camp at the cotton belt till 31 August, as the next 15 days are very crucial for the cotton crop,” said Khudian.
“These officers will visit the field to inspect the cotton crop and guide the farmers to prevent this pest attack, besides, monitoring the work of the officials. They have also been directed to send a status report to the headquarters daily after visiting the fields,” added the minister.
“Any negligence or laxity in duty will invite strict action as this is a high time to stand by the farmers to save the cotton crop,” he said.
The officers have been further directed to visit shops and manufacturing units of pesticides, besides carrying out regular sampling for quality as well as rates at which pesticides are being sold to the farmers.
The minister said that nobody found selling spurious pesticides would be spared.
He also warned companies and sellers against selling inessential products by bundling them with pesticides and fertilisers, to the farmers.
Appropriate action will be initiated against those found indulging in this malpractice, he added.
It may be noted that cotton output in Punjab has seen a sharp decline this year — almost one-third of the previous year — mainly due to excessive rain and pink-bollworm attacks.
According to the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board (PSAMB), the arrival of cotton in the 2022-23 marketing season was recorded at 8.7 lakh quintals up to 5 August this year, while it was 28.89 lakh quintals for the entire 2021-22 season.
