Bathinda, September 22
Heavy rain coupled with strong winds today wreaked a major setback to the hopes of a bumper cotton crop in Malwa, besides adding to the apprehensions of a pest attack among cotton growers. Though experts put the loss at about five per cent, they are yet to come out with any figure quoting economic losses saying it will be too early to draw any conclusion.

It rained heavily for about a couple of hours in the morning and the cotton crop spread over thousands of acres in about 40 villages of the district got submerged. Strong winds dealt a severe blow to the cotton crop, as it led to flower shedding and bolls getting inundated in stagnant water. The worst affected villages were the ones around Goniana. These include Mehma Sarkari, Mehma Sarja, Mehma Bhagwana, Deon, Buladhewala, Siwia, Nehiwala, and Gill Patti. Sukhdev Singh of Kothe Inder Singh Wala said his 10-acre cotton crop had been flattened due to strong winds and rain. Tarsem Singh of the same village also reported damage to his 12-acre cotton crop. Cotton crop spread over thousands of acres in this village had suffered 40 per cent damage. Sarpanch Jagrup Singh said a lot of flower shedding had come to light in the village.

However, there were no reports of rainfall from Rama Mandi, Talwandi Sabo and Rampura Phul.

The former president of North India Cotton Association, Mr Ashok Kapur, said today’s rainfall dealt a setback to their hopes of a bumper cotton crop. He admitted that rains would lead to economic losses to cotton growers, as the quality of their cotton would take a beating and their input costs would shoot up owing to spray of pesticides fearing pest attack.

However, he said the anticipation of production loss due to rainfall would boost cotton rates that would compensate the farmers to some extent.

He said the cotton crop this year had stunted growth, which would lead to dipping of bolls in stagnant rainwater. The rains had already delayed the arrival of cotton in markets, which otherwise picks up around this time every year.

The advantage of rainfall had been lost due to the persistence of cloudy weather over the past few days. The Chief Agricultural Officer, Mr P.S. Aulakh, said the cotton crop in full bloom was the worst hit. Cotton plants having lots of bolls were grounded and it could spoil bolls. Strong winds had caused the most damage, he added.

Meanwhile, losses to paddy crop in scores of villages have also come to the fore. Mehma Sawai Sarpanch Balwant Singh said hundreds of acres of paddy was felled due to rainfall.