On Wednesday, a team of agricultural experts visited various cotton districts and found that the pest was present in around 4-5 per cent of the surveyed area in Bathinda and Mansa.

The experts noted that the infestation has not yet surpassed the economic threshold level (ETL), indicating that it is still manageable since the attack is not a major one.

However, if not promptly addressed, the problem can spread rapidly.

In Punjab, the cotton belt encompasses eight districts, namely Bathinda, Fazilka, Mansa, Muktsar, Moga, Barnala, Sangrur, and Faridkot.

Among these, Bathinda, Fazilka, Mansa, and Muktsar are the main cotton-growing districts.

This year, Punjab witnessed a record low cultivation area for cotton, with only 1.75 lakh hectare dedicated to the crop across the state.

Out of this, the four aforementioned districts alone accounted for more than 90 per cent of the cultivated area.

In 2021, the cotton belt, including Bathinda and Mansa, experienced a severe pink bollworm infestation, resulting in significant losses.

Dr. Gurvinder Singh, director of the Punjab Agriculture Department, visited Bathinda and Mansa on Wednesday, and confirmed the presence of pink bollworm in some fields.

He underscored that if the attack remains within the ETL, it can be controlled using recommended sprays. However, once it exceeds the ETL, the cost of treatment escalates significantly, and there is no guarantee of success.

Gurvinder further explained that the crop is currently at the flowering stage, making it easier to manage the outbreak.

Additionally, the department is implementing a paste-/gel-based technology in selected demonstration plots to combat the pest attack this year.

The gel-based technology is not new to Punjab, as Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) in Ludhiana has been experimenting with it on their Bathinda farmland for the past two to three years.

The paste or gel is applied at an angle to the stems of the plants near the shoots.

This paste releases synthetic pheromones that disrupt the mating of male insects, preventing them from locating female insects. However, experts recommend three applications of the paste when the plant is 50, 80, and 110 days old.

Experts highlight the urgent need to train farmers in such technology in combating these destructive pests, especially considering the declining cultivation area dedicated to cotton each year.