Delhi (Commoditiescontrol) - Outbreak of whiteflies on cotton crop are spreading in Haryan as several crops reported to be under attack in Hisar districts after Rohtak. Cotton crop are likely to suffer damages due to pest related problems. Agriculture experts believe that if condition persists a while it will affect crop severely which may result in low yield.
Dr Pravin Kumar Mandal, Specialist (Training and Information) in Agriculture Department said, “ The area has not received rainfall for past 13 or 14 days and this interval has given rise to spread of whiteflies on cotton.” Agriculture expert has asked farmers not to use synthetic insecticides on cotton crops. Instead, applying insecticide made of neem oil has been suggested by the agriculture department. High temperature as well as increasing humidity give rise to whiteflies spread, said Mandal. According to him, “ If weather condition doesn’t change in next couple of days, it will affect crop and its yield may fall.”
As on cotton sowing has covered 1.26 lakh hectares in Hisar as compared to last years 1.55 lakh hectares, other crops such as guar acreage recorded at 76,865 hectares, kharif oilseed at 5,882, Arhar at 503, peanuts at 330 and paddy at 50,000 hectares, said Dr. Vijay Kumar Dabla, Technical Assistant, Agriculture Department.
Outbreak of whiteflies will bring negative effect on cotton crop this year too as it caused damages to the crop last year but it is too early to assess the damages as crop is in early state right now, he added.
Whiteflies attack on cotton crop is widespread in Hisar and some of the farmers have given up hope as they have stopped spraying insecticides, said Ashok Gupta, Proprietor Hisar Beej Firm. He assumes 25 per cent fall in yield this year given the current condition of standing crop.
Ramvilas, a trader of Hisar Mandi said, “ Trading activity is slow in cotton these days as cotton trades near Rs 3,800 per maund (old one man equals to 37 kg) 15 days ago but it has declined to Rs 3,700. Also, raw cotton is trading near Rs 4,700/100 kg.
Subhash, a farmer from Sadal village of Adampur block has sprayed his crops twice or thrice but he doesn’t find any improvement in crop condition. He said, “Desi cotton is not affected that much as it does to BT cotton.” Cotton crop is spoiling due to outbreak of whiteflies and guar crop is also getting damaged due to pest problems, Subhash added.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-22-40015533)
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