Cotton loses ground amid poor returns, pest attacks

Haryana's cotton belt is facing a sharp decline in cultivation area this kharif season owing to a combination of economic and environmental factors, despite the incentive schemes by the state government to replace other kharif crops of paddy and bajra.This cropping pattern is expected to increase the area under paddy and bajra during this kharif season as sowing is set to start soon. The government has offered an incentive of Rs 7,000 per acre to sow crops that need less water under the Mera Pani Meri Virasat scheme, and Rs 4,000 per acre for replacing bajra under diversification.While cotton has long been a key cash crop in districts like Hisar, Sirsa, and Fatehabad —popularly known as the cotton belt of the state — a year-after-year trend of diminishing profitability, coupled with recurring whitefly infestations, and now a crippling canal water shortage, especially at the time of sowing, has led many farmers to turn away from the crop.According to official data, the area under cotton cultivation has come down from 5.50 lakh hectares last year to 3.25 lakh hectares this season, against a target of 4.76 lakh hectares in the state. The Bhakra-fed canal system, a lifeline for cotton fields, is unable to provide water for irrigation up to its capacity, as only eight of 22 distributaries are flowing, leaving vast tracts of farmland without irrigation, sources said.This shortage has particularly hit hard the farmers in regions like Hisar, Bhiwani, Charkhi Dadri, where groundwater is either too deep or saline, making canal water the only viable irrigation source.Besides, long-term economic trends have also discouraged farmers. Data from the Department of Agricultural Economics of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar, revealed that the past two years shows that cotton returns have remained stagnant or have declined slightly. In 2022, cotton recorded a net return of Rs 25,005 per hectare. In 2023, this figure saw a marginal drop to Rs 24,925 per hectare. This contrasts with paddy, which not only maintained higher net returns but also saw an improvement from Rs 41,581 in 2022 to Rs 42,132.5 in 2023. Even bajra, despite slight dips, maintained more stable returns than cotton.Further compounding the problem is the recurring whitefly infestation, which has plagued the cotton crop in Haryana over the past several years. Farmers report significant yield losses year after year without effective pest control mechanisms. This persistent threat has eroded farmers' confidence.Agricultural officials acknowledge that declining profitability, pest damage, and water shortage is driving a shift in cropping patterns. Many farmers are now opting for crops with more reliable returns and lower risk. With no clarity from the irrigation authorities on when water flow will resume, and with mounting losses due to pests, the trend away from cotton could deepen further, affecting not only individual livelihoods but also the state’s overall cotton output this season.

Cotton loses ground amid poor returns, pest attacks

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Cotton loses ground amid poor returns, pest attacks

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

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