Pink Bollworm (PBW) Menace
- PBW pests have severely damaged cotton crops over the past 3-4 years.
- Example: Farmer in Fazilka district destroyed his cotton crop due to PBW infestation.
Pink Bollworm
- Pink Bollworm is considered possibly the most destructive pest on cotton worldwide.
- It is native to India but is now found in nearly all the cotton-growing countries of the globe.
- Description: The larvae have distinctive pink bands, and the larval stage, is the most destructive and identifiable stage. The adults are small moths about 3/8 inch long.
- Threat:
- Adults lay eggs on cotton bolls; once hatched, the larvae burrow into the developing fruits (bolls) of cotton plants, eat the seeds and damage the fibres of the cotton.
- The damage affects both the weight and quality of the harvested bolls containing the lint fibre and seeds inside, thus, reducing both the yield and quality.
- When the larvae mature, they cut out the boll and drop to the ground and cocoon near the soil surface.
- The larvae can also survive in the seed after the ginning process and if the seed is not fumigated, they will emerge from the stored seed the next spring.
Apart from cotton, they can also attack hibiscus and okra.
What are the measures taken in this regard?
- CREMIT Technology
- Deployment: (Haryana) and Fazilka/Bhatinda (Punjab).
- Objective: Eco-friendly population control through "Insect Family Planning" by disrupting mating of PBW.
- Mechanism: Uses synthetic sex pheromones to confuse male moths during mating season, reducing PBW incidence.
Collaborative Initiatives
- Project San-Vardhan (Cotton You Can Trust)
- Purpose: Promote CREMIT technology in Punjab and Haryana.
- Focus: Ensure sustainable cotton farming by reducing dependence on insecticides.
San Vardhan is a holistic approach to tackle the PBW issue, including package of practices of agronomy, nutrients, etc. It will also enable traceability of the produce. This is currently being implemented across 2,000 acres in three districts of Punjab and Haryana with about 500+ cotton farmers being trained on Integrated Nutrient Management (INM).
Policy Advocacy
- Demand for BG-III Cotton Seeds
- Request: Punjab Agriculture Minister seeks approval of next generation Bollgard-III cotton seeds.
- Reason: Current BG-II seeds vulnerable to pests; BG-III seeds expected to offer better pest resistance.
- Advocacy: Urges Union Agriculture Minister to expedite approval to combat ongoing pest attacks effectively.
Challenges Faced by Farmers
- Example: Farmer shift from cotton to moong due to PBW damage and lack of irrigation machinery.
- Need: Access to resilient seeds and sustainable pest management technologies to safeguard crops.
Way Forward
- Emphasize adoption of innovative technologies like CREMIT.
- Accelerate approval and adoption of BG-III cotton seeds to enhance crop resilience against pests.
- Promote sustainable agricultural practices to ensure long-term viability of cotton farming in the region.