Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 73
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 74
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
Notice (8): Undefined variable: urlPrefix [APP/Template/Layout/printlayout.ctp, line 8]latest-news-updates/dark-clouds-over-cotton-scheme-by-rakhi-jagga-3297.html"/> LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Dark clouds over cotton scheme by Rakhi Jagga | Im4change.org
Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Dark clouds over cotton scheme by Rakhi Jagga


When it was launched by the Centre 10 years ago, the Intensive Cotton Development Programme came as a ray of hope for cotton farmers in Punjab. The scheme was meant to enhance production through technology transfer, supply of quality seeds and educating and training the farmers — promising them a beautiful tomorrow.

But 10 years down the line, the scheme has remained where it was for the cotton farmers, caught in a vicious blame-game over funding, lazy approach of the state government — and technicalities arising out of them.

Under the Intensive Cotton Development Programme, as in most centrally sponsored schemes, the Centre is supposed to give 75 per cent of the fund and the rest is to be given by the state. Punjab’s case is unique — the central government last sanctioned grant worth Rs 6.07 crore in 2000-01. And not without reason, as to date the state has not been able to show utilisation of the entire money. Hence no funds are being released under the scheme to educate and help the farmers.

Out of the Rs 6.07 crore, Rs 1.09 crore is still lying unutilised due to the laid-back attitude of the state, and therefore a tussle is on between the state and Centre regarding the release of fresh grant.

It is not surprising then that many of the farmers, who are busy these days controlling white fly attack in their fields, have not heard of the scheme let alone seek assistance under it. Although Bakshish Singh Chahal, Agriculture Officer of Ferozepur, says that “we have educated the farmers and the situation is not that bad”, a check with the farmers gives a different and grim picture. Many have done about 10 sprays to prevent the pest attack, but the crop is not responding and all they can do now is hope for the best. Already more than 3000 hectares of crop in Malwa belt of Punjab is under white fly attack.

In April this year, the state government had sent a proposal worth Rs 5.2 crore to the Centre to seek funds under the scheme at least in the current financial year, but not a penny has come so far and the cotton crop will be ready by September end. Even if the fresh grant is released now, it will be of no use for this financial year. Out of Rs 5.2 crore, Rs 3.94 crore was to be given by the Centre and the rest was to be contributed by the state and the funds were to be used for training camps, bio-pesticides and other products.

Sources said the last time a grant was sanctioned was in 2000-01, worth Rs 6.07 crore, but it was released only in 2004-05 because the state took four years to put its 25 per cent share. Even after that the state released only Rs 4 crore to the agriculture department, and out of this Rs 3.52 crore was utilised.

The pending amount along with some fresh grant, amounting to Rs 3.43 crore, was released again in March 2006-07 to the agriculture department, but this was not utilised because it reached only by the end of the financial year. Sources confirmed that the same amount was then carried forward in 2007-08 and even out of this, Rs 1.09 crore is still unutilised.

So till the time the state does not return the pending amount, the Centre is in no mood to release fresh grant. The Centre has also questioned the state as to why the grant released in 2000-01 has not been utilised fully to date. “This shows lack of proper concern of the agriculture department and the state government towards increasing the area under cotton,” said Abohar MLA Sunil Jakhar. “I have confirmed with the Union agriculture department regarding the non-utilisation of funds till date. Farmers in the cotton belt need subsidies and various schemes for cotton crop, but they are in cold store, all thanks to the state government.”

When The Indian Express enquired with the farmers, many said they were hearing the name of the scheme for the first time. Ravi Godara, who is doing cotton farming on 200 acres land in Sitto village, said, “I have taken subsidies on a few machines purchased for cotton farming and beyond that I don’t know any detail about the Intensive Cotton Development Programme.”

Balbir Singh, another farmer who is struggling to save his crop from pests these days, said, “I have done nine sprays in my fields, but it seems that crop will not yield any result. My 27 acres is under white fly attack. Forget the schemes, we have to buy seeds in black as well. The government never educated the farmers. I am hearing about the scheme for the first time.”

B S Kahlon, Deputy Director, Agriculture, who is looking after the cotton crop, confirmed no fresh grant has yet been released by the Centre. “The proposal was sent well in time in the month of April and by now, we should have utilised the funds, but they have not been sanctioned as of now,” he said. He, however, did not comment on why the previous funds had not been utilised in time.