Despite being a cash crop, farmers are not enticed by cotton cultivation in recent years. Photographs by Vikas Choudhary
Agriculture

Cotton cultivators in Punjab face double whammy of climate change and pest attacks

Reduced profits, pest attacks and erratic weather complicate cotton cultivation

Vikas Choudhary

Punjab is registering a drastic decrease in cultivated area under cotton as cultivators are switching to better agricultural prospects.

A host of factors including climate change and pest attacks are making cotton cultivation a loss-making venture.

Pest attacks not only damage the crops but also raise the input costs on insecticides and pesticides.

The farmers demand an increase in the minimum selling price (MSP) of cotton produce.

Unlike food crops, the payment for agricultural labourers in cotton cultivation is in cash which makes it a risky crop.