Bt cotton now sown in large parts of Balangir July 20, 2011 10:18:42 PM

BHUBANESWAR | Thursday, July 21, 2011 | Email | Print | | Back
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Bt cotton now sown in large parts of Balangir
July 20, 2011 10:18:42 PM
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SUDHIR MISHRA | Balangir

Buoyed by last year’s impressive cotton sale, which fetched more than Rs 3,200 per quintal, be it Bt cotton or others, farmers here have taken up cultivation of the crop in a large patch of land, including in far-off villages, even as the ideal sowing time is over and uncertainty of rainfall looms large in the district.

Cotton crop grows very well in the light sandy soil, which is a 150 to 180 days crop. As the cotton seeds sown in June did not germinate, after the rain of first week of July, farmers have geared up for the cotton cultivation in a bigger way with a hope to earn more cash than the previous year.

As the ideal sowing time is over, we are advising the farmers not to go for cotton crop in view of late and uncertainty of rainfall and absence of assured irrigation in the district, warns an official of the Agriculture Department here.

Cotton crop badly requires rain after 90 to 120 days since sowing so that the ball bursts which results in flower. If a farmer sows the cotton in July, by 90 days it would be end of September-October. The rainfall is quite uncertain then. If no rain occurs, it would lead to serious crop loss, the official explains.

However, hardly are the farmers heeding to our advice. They hope that there would be rain in October and so they have taken up cotton cultivation in a big way, the official reveals.

According to recent official reports, cotton cultivation has been taken up in 28,100 hectares of land in the district. Rather than going for non-Bt cotton seeds, the farmers are taking up Bt cotton in a bigger way.

Cotton crop is most susceptible to Ball Worm pest. To counter the pest attack, the genetically modified cotton, Bt cotton, seed was launched. The pest attacking the Bt cotton crop dies as it releases a toxin.

“I have taken up Bt cotton cultivation in my land as it is disease-free. Earlier, I used to cultivate the non Bt varieties. In 2001, there was severe pest attack for which I have chosen Bt cotton in my field this time, confides a farmer of Belpada block.

Confirming the earlier reports, another farmer says: “The first time I had sown Bt cotton did not germinate and I sowed it once again. I have brought the seeds from one Sukru who has enough stock of seeds and fertiliser and is ready to give the seed on heavy discount. In our village and nearby villages, people have cultivated Bt cotton in the fallow and Gochar land, leaving any space for animals to graze.”

With paddy cultivation coming to a virtual halt due to inadequate rain, cotton, which is a drought resistant crop, has been taken up by the farmers anticipating rainfall in September/October end. When asked about the increasing use of Bt cotton seeds, SMS cotton SK Murmmu of Agriculture Department says, “Officially, we do not have any reports of Bt cotton being cultivated in the district.”

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