The intense heat wave in northern region is leading to burning of cotton plants in several areas of Punjab, causing concern among farmers.
“There have been reports of cotton plants getting burnt due to extremely hot conditions prevailing in the region,” an official of State agriculture department said here on Monday.
“Plants are very small as cotton crop is still at initial stage,” he said.
Keeping in view that the weather conditions will worsen, the official said farmers may not be encouraged to bring more area under cotton crop which could impact the State’s crop diversification plan.
He, however, added that the damage to the crop might not be widespread and can be revived through light irrigation.
“There is no need to worry. Farmers should apply irrigation in the fields wherever there is a burning of plants because of hot weather,” official said.
Cotton sowing is in full swing in Punjab in several cotton growing areas including Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa. It had been delayed due to late harvesting of wheat crop.
Punjab is eyeing to bring over 5 lakh hectares under cotton crop as the State is laying thrust on reducing area under water-guzzling paddy crop to other crops including cotton, maize.
Intense hot conditions prevailed in northern region with maximum temperature hovering around 42-46 degrees in most places in Punjab and Haryana. Over 95 per cent area in Punjab is under Bt cotton crop.