NEW DELHI (Commoditiescontrol) - Constant rains in Punjab may have benefited paddy crops, but humid and cloudy weather intensified whiteflies attack on cotton crop at some places in the state. Whiteflies infestation is reported to have increased in Malwa region of the state which includes Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar, Fazilka and Abohar.
A combative campaign has been launched by the state agriculture department in the affected areas to prevent whiteflies attack. Whitefly attack on cotton crop is on rise in Bathinda district, though only 5 percent of crop damage is reported so far and a massive campaign has been launched in the district. Camps are being organized at block level to aware farmers to take preventive measures, said Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sodhi, Field Officer, Agriculture Department, Bathinda. A meeting of the officials has been called on 20th August, 2015 to discuss the matter at a larger scale and explore the measures to make whiteflies attack ineffective.
Measures To Control Pest Attack
The agriculture department has suggested farmers to spray Tarizophos or Ethion or Diafenthiuron or Oberon to control whiteflies attack. Whiteflies attack on cotton crop is, usually seen during the months of July-September, said Sukhbir Singh. As a part of awareness campaign, posters with preventive measures have been put up at public places, he added.
Nand Singh Sidhu, a Bathinda-based farmer said that whiteflies attack is very harsh this year as compared to last year. He has cultivated cotton in about 22 acres out of which nearly two acres of crop has been spoiled by whiteflies attack. Farmers of his village and adjoining areas are now uprooting their cotton crop, added Sidhu.
However, some of the progressive farmers are applying pesticides and other measures suggested by the agriculture department to limit losses, said Sidhu.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-22-40015532)