In the northern cotton belt of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Punjab, a devastating infestation of pink bollworm (PBW) has wreaked havoc on Bt Cotton crops, causing immense distress for local farmers. The damage inflicted by this persistent pest is the most severe it has been in the past two decades.
Farmers’ Plight
Across this region, many farmers are grappling with the fact that nearly 80 to 90 percent of their cotton crops have been ravaged by the insidious PBW, also known as Saunders. These farmers, who should have been busy with bountiful harvests, find themselves dealing with despair as they witness their fields in ruins.
A Farmer’s Story
Krishan Lal, hailing from the Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan, invested months of hard work and Rs 2.5 lakh into cultivating cotton on his 18.74 acres of land. Now, he’s left with disappointment, stress, and the daunting task of clearing his fields. The meager yield has discouraged laborers from harvesting the damaged cotton, making the process both time-consuming and unprofitable.
PBW: A Silent Destroyer
The pink bollworm is a formidable adversary to cotton crops, targeting developing cotton fruit, including flower buds and seed-filled bolls. The adult worm, a grey moth, lays eggs on these cotton components, and the hatched larvae feed on the seeds within the bolls. This process disrupts the cotton’s quality, causing lint damage and staining.
Unprecedented Damage
Though PBW has become a recurring issue for cotton crops, the extent of damage witnessed this year is unprecedented since 2001. In the past, American bollworms had been the primary culprits responsible for farmers’ misery.
The Bt Cotton Solution
To combat the American bollworm and pink bollworm infestations, the Indian government introduced genetically modified, pest-resistant Bt Cotton (Bollgard II seed). However, over time, the pink bollworm has developed resistance to Bt cotton.
Farmers’ Struggles
Rajesh Nain from Haryana’s Sirsa district invested in two acres of cotton cultivation, hoping for a substantial harvest. However, pest damage has dashed those hopes, and he is now looking at a mere fraction of the expected yield. Despite 13 rounds of pesticide spraying in September, the infestation still devastated 90 percent of his crop.
Double Trouble in Rajasthan
Cotton farmers in Rajasthan are grappling with a dual crisis, as excess rainfall in August has led to water saturation in cotton fields, facilitating the development of boll rot fungal disease. The excess moisture created ideal conditions for both pink bollworm infestations and boll rot.
Extent of Damage
According to Rishi Kumar, an entomologist at the Central Institute for Cotton Research, at least 25 percent of Haryana’s cotton farms have witnessed damage as high as 50 percent. In Punjab, damage stands at around 65 percent, while Rajasthan has been the hardest hit, with 90 percent of cotton crops affected.