Srikakulam: Cultivation of HT cotton goes unabated in border areas

Srikakulam: This cotton crop cultivation is likely to spread border mandals, Bhamini, Kotturu, Sitampeta, Meliaputti, Mandasa and Pathapatnam mandals in Srikakulam district.

This variety of cotton seed has no approval from the government and its sales and use is punishable offence. The HT cotton plants will not die even after spraying of 'glycoside,' a weed control liquid. Normally weed plants in any crop must be removed manually for which workers are required. But the removal of weed plants in the HT cotton crop is possible by spraying weed control liquid 'glycoside'. With an aim to save time and workers' wages, farmers prefer to cultivate HT cotton crop as they have no idea on negative impacts of it.

HT cotton crop will have adverse impact on human health and environment. The air and odour released from these cotton plants is not good for any living being. The HT cotton will also cause deadly diseases like cancer, according to sources. Due to cultivation of HT cotton, the land will lose its fertility and cause soil pollution. Gradually soil will lose its fertility and not useful for cultivation after some time, an agricultural scientist K Madhu working at agricultural research station at Ragolu said.

"We can book cases on sale and use of seed under the Seed Control Act 1966 and the Environment Protection Act 1986," Joint Director for Agriculture K Sridhar told The Hans India. "Last year, we have seized the HT cotton seed from an auto-rickshaw and booked a case," the JD added. In Odisha, there is no restrictions on the HT cotton cultivation like our state," the JD elaborated.