Cotton area in Punjab, Haryana shrinks 27 percent this year
Q. Cotton area in Punjab and Haryana declines by what percent in the 2016-2017 crop year?- Published on 28 Jun 16a. 27
b. 26
c. 25
d. 24
ANSWER: 27
Cotton area in Punjab and Haryana has declined 27 percent to 7.56 ha in the 2016-2017 as farmers shifted to other crops after incurring huge losses due to whitefly pest attack earlier this year. Two states planted cotton in 10.3 lakh ha in the 2015-2016 crop year (July-June)
- Sowing of cotton in Punjab and Haryana has been completed and total area is down as farmers were scared to grow cotton due to whitefly pest attack that has damaged the crop massively in these two states in the previous year
- Farmers have shifted to pulses, paddy and other crops in the states
- As per the latest data, area planted to cotton in Punjab was lower by 43.11 percent at 2.56 lakh ha in 2016-2017 crop year from 4.5 lakh ha in the earlier year
- Cotton area coverage in neighbouring Haryana fell 14 percent to 5 lakh ha this year as against 5.8 lakh ha in 2015-2016
- More than 90 percent of farmers have sown Bt cotton seeds which is the maximum retail price of which is being fixed by the central government from this year onwards
