Parvesh Sharma
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, October 8
The cotton crop on 1,500 acres in 85 villages of Sangrur has come under the pink bollworm attack. In Barnala, the attack has caused panic among farmers. In many villages, the repeated sprays of insecticide have failed to prevent the spread of the attack.
Though teams of the Agriculture Department are visiting various affected villages to save the crop, farmers are demanding quick release of financial aid, fearing complete loss.
Survey under way to identify affected
Our survey is on. Once done, we will send a list of affected farmers to the Punjab Government. —Jaswinderpal Singh Grewal, Sangrur chief agriculture officer
“My relatives in Bathinda have told me that once pink bollworm attacks the cotton crop, there is no chance of survival. Officers are advising us to spray more insecticides, which we have already done without any success,” Rashpinder Singh, a farmer.
Department officials are organising special camps at various villages, recommending sprays and making farmers aware against spurious ones. However, many farmers, who are already under a huge debt and had high hopes of good return from cotton, are distressed.
“In the district, many farmers have not received any financial aid for the paddy destroyed by rain some months ago. The latest attack on cotton will just add to the losses. The Punjab Government should quickly announce financial aid to bail out farmers,” said Gurcharn Khokhar, a Bhartia Kisan Union (Ugrahan) leader.
Confirmed the pink bollworm attack, Sangrur Chief Agriculture Officer (CAO) Jaswinderpal Singh Grewal said: “In Sunam, Lehra and Andana blocks of Sangrur district, pink bollworm has affected cotton on 1,500 acres in 85 villages. Our survey is on and we are sending lists of affected farmers to the Punjab Government.”
Barnala Deputy Commissioner Kumar Saurav Raj also visited various villages of the district on Friday, including Pakhon Kalan, Tajoke, Rureke Khurd, Bhaini Fatta, Dhurkot, Pandher and Kotduna. “We would send a report of the affected villages to the Punjab Government for further action,” said the Barnala DC.
Cotton in 85 Sangrur villages under bollworm attack
{$excerpt:n}
