Cotton farmers in Punjab are facing a “double blow” this season, with excessive rain damaging crops on nearly 25,000 hectares of land. The total area under cotton cultivation this year stands at 1.19 lakh hectares. The Punjab cotton farmers are not only dealing with crop loss but also with a financial setback as the prices of their produce have fallen below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
The price of unginned cotton (narma) in mandis is currently hovering between ₹6,500 and ₹7,300 per quintal. This is significantly lower than the MSP, which ranges from ₹7,710 to ₹8,110, depending on quality and staple length. A commission agent from Fazilka attributed the price drop to high moisture content and weak ginned cotton prices in the market.
Despite the challenges, a three-member state-level committee, led by Deputy Director (Cotton) Dr. Charanjit Singh, surveyed fields in Muktsar and reported some positive news. The committee found that whitefly incidence was below the economic threshold level (ETL), and there were no signs of a pink bollworm infestation, which has been a major concern in previous years.
Dr. Karanjit Singh, Chief Agriculture Officer, Muktsar, acknowledged that recent rains had affected some areas and confirmed that a special “girdawari” (field inspection) was being conducted to assess the full extent of the damage. He advised farmers to remain vigilant and stay in contact with department staff for support.