Maharashtra urges farmers to grow indigenous variety of cotton

“In Gujarat, cotton farmers have suffered huge losses last year due to attack of pink bollworm and unless we are careful the same will befall on our farmers also,” said Pandurang Fundkar.

The state government plans to urge farmers in the state to grow indigenous variety cotton and not genetically modified Bt cotton. Pandurang Fundkar, Minister for Agriculture, said the state aims to ensure that, within the next four years, at least 25 per cent of the cotton grown in the state is of indigenous variety.

Fundkar said, over the last few years, attack of other insects especially pink bollworms have increased and it has resulted in over-usage of pesticides and insecticides.

“In Gujarat, cotton farmers have suffered huge losses last year due to attack of pink bollworm and unless we are careful the same will befall on our farmers also,” he said.

The state will take up awareness campaign which would ask farmers to mix and plant Bt and non-Bt seeds to help them protect their crops.