Kapurthala, 20th April, 2025. Kaputhala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh today made a vehement appeal. He urged the Government of India and the Punjab government. He urged them to save the cotton growers of the state. Additionally, he called for help to conserve the environment. The area under the cash crop should not permanently shift to water-consuming paddy.

state government to offer cotton growers 33% subsidy on purchase of cotton seeds.

He appealed to both the governments to release BT seeds of Bollgard-III to the farmers to fight pink bollworm which has eaten the crop in past few years. The law maker welcomed the move by state government to offer cotton growers 33% subsidy on purchase of cotton seeds. “He said, however, that we must take more drastic steps to save the crop known as white gold, which has transformed the fortunes of farmers, especially in Punjab’s Malwa belt.” “He said, however, that we must take more drastic steps to save the crop known as white gold, which has transformed the fortunes of farmers, especially in Punjab’s Malwa belt.”

Cotton ; bollard-III seeds are in production in Australia and Brazil.

The area under the crop has been reduced to 98,000 hectares last year. Previously, it touched 8 lakh hectares, representing 25% of the total area under cultivation in a season. “We have to seriously consider the direction. We should give clearance to bollgard-III seeds. This is necessary to save the crops and state’s prosperity”, suggested legislator from Kapurthala. The clearance to the seeds is pending with Central Seeds Committee. Punjab Agricultural University in Ludhiana conducts the trials for the second consecutive year. MLA apprised that the bollgard-III seeds are in production in Australia and Brazil. Farmers in those countries are reaping rich dividends. “Why farmers in India have to wait for so long for the seeds”, said Rana Gurjeet Singh. He added farmers in the state are hard working and in southwest Punjab cotton growers have mastered cotton production. “Let us not force the cotton growers to permanently shift to paddy”, said the MLA. He further stated that there is acute water scarcity in the district where cotton is grown. Additionally, the cash crop is most suited for the local soil and climatic conditions. Timely release of bollgard-III seeds will support the farmers. Every single year of loss causes irreparable damage to the environment and the state’s economy.