Mumbai: Following reports of pink bookworm
pest wreaking havoc in the state’s cotton industry, it is feared that cotton
farming this year may suffer losses of up to Rs 10,000 crore this season.“The infection of pink bollworm has been plaguing the
crop for two-three years and this year it has affected almost 50 per cent of the
crop. The losses to the cotton economy could reach Rs 10,000 crore,” said
Kishore Tiwari, president, Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavalamban Mission, a
government of Maharashtra initiative. Mr Tiwari said he has reported this to
the government.
Dr V.N. Waghmare, director of Nagpur’s Central Institute for Cotton Research
said, “The pest has overcome the resistance of BT Cotton seed Bollgard II and
is overpowering it. It is feeding on the present crop and is there to stay for
years if serious measures are not taken.”A report from CICR’s former director Dr K.R. Kranthi in December 2015 had
warned the government about the issue. “First they ignored Dr Kranthi’s report.
Then they sidelined questions raised by me in the legislature session,” said
Dhananjay Munde, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council.
Agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar conceded, “Yes, there is damage in areas
of Yavatmal, Wardha, Jalana and in rest of the districts the damage is around
5-10 per cent. We have decided measures such as selling seeds as hybrid ones
from next year and also selling by mixing with refugee seeds.”Kranthi’s report.
Then they sidelined questions raised by me in the legislature session,” said
Dhananjay Munde, Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council.Agriculture minister Pandurang Fundkar conceded, “Yes,
there is damage in areas of Yavatmal, Wardha, Jalana and in rest of the
districts the damage is around 5-10 per cent. We have decided measures such as
selling seeds as hybrid ones from next year and also selling by mixing with
refugee seeds.”
Source: Business Today, India Friday, 17 November 2017