Punjab Unlikely to Meet Cotton Acreage Targets: Agri Experts

This Year, State Set a Target of 1.25 Lakh Hectares, But Farmers Remain Hesitant in Absence of New Hybrids Resistant to Pink Bollworm Attacks

- Vishal Joshi

BATHINDA: Punjab government's efforts to increase the acreage of cotton are unlikely to have a significant impact in the semi-arid southwest districts of the state till the new cotton hybrid seeds, which are resistant to pink bollworm attack, are released, agricultural experts said. They added that a 33% subsidy incentive may help the state improve the acreage marginally compared to kharif in 2024, when 95,000 hectares, the lowest ever, were under cotton production.