With Rs 20 crore allocated for the project, the Punjab government plans to offer a 33 per cent subsidy on BT cotton hybrid seeds that are suggested by PAU, Ludhiana. By encouraging crop diversification and sustainable methods, this action seeks to reduce the financial burden on cotton producers, deter non-recommended hybrids, and increase cotton cultivation to 1.25 lakh hectares

In an effort to encourage crop diversification in the state, the Punjab government announced on Saturday that it has chosen to offer a 33 per cent subsidy on BT cotton hybrid seeds. Seeds recommended by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, will receive the subsidy.

A total of Rs 20 crore has been set aside for the subsidy program, according to Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian. This move will ease the financial strain on cotton growers while discouraging the production of hybrids that are not advised, allowing them to switch to high-yielding and pest-resistant BT cotton hybrid seeds.

A vital kharif crop in the state’s southwest districts, cotton offers a competitive substitute for the water-guzzling rice crop and promotes economic expansion and agricultural diversification.

Khuddian urged farmers to seize this chance and choose the suggested Bt cotton hybrid seeds, stating that the state government is dedicated to helping farmers and encouraging environmentally friendly farming methods.

In addition to guaranteeing the success of our cotton business, he stated that this subsidy scheme is an essential step in attaining crop diversification.

The department’s administrative secretary, Dr. Basant Garg, said that each farmer may only receive a maximum of five acres or 10 packets of cotton seeds, each weighing 475 grams.

In order to stop the arrival of fake seeds from neighboring states, he urged farmers to get the original invoices for every Bt cotton seed purchase and instructed department representatives to carry out routine monitoring and inspections.