Govt to give 33% subsidy on Bt cotton hybrid seeds

The state government has decided to provide 33 per cent subsidy on Bt cotton hybrid seeds recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana. The step aims at promoting crop diversification and increasing acreage under the “white gold” crop.

Announcing this, Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Gurmeet Singh Khudian said Rs 20 crore had been allocated for the purpose. It would reduce the financial burden on cotton growers, while simultaneously discouraging the cultivation of non-recommended varieties to enable them to adopt high-yielding and pest-resistant Bt cotton hybrid seeds.

Khudian said the Agriculture Department had fixed a target of increasing the area under cotton crop to at least 1.25 lakh hectares this year. Cotton, a crucial kharif crop in the south-western districts of the state, presents a viable alternative to the water-guzzling paddy.