Punjab is expected to see a record production of cotton this year at 18.20 lakh bales against last year’s 12.23 lakh bales, state agriculture officials said in December. With this, an average production per acre crossed the 10 quintals per acre mark. Last year there was an average production of 9.31 quintals per acre. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has congratulated the farmers, especially from the Malwa belt, for record production of cotton, while directing the Agriculture Department to ensure timely advance support for the cotton growers for the next Kharif season.

He lauded the efforts of the Agriculture Department, especially the field staff, in motivating the farmers to shift to cotton cultivation, as part of the state government’s crop diversification focus. These efforts translated into increase in the area under cotton cultivation from 6.70 lakh acres last year to 9.80 lakh acres during this year, an official spokesperson told IANS.