Disease Resistant Seeds Hamper Shift to Cotton; Panjab’s Forest Heritage

Amid concerns over Panjab’s falling water table, the government is urging south Panjab farmers to shift from water-intensive paddy to cotton, though the absence of pink bollworm-resistant Bollgard-III seeds complicates this push. Trials for BT-III GM seeds have begun, but final clearance typically requires three years of testing, leaving growers reliant on older varieties as they begin sowing. Despite dire warnings of desertification, each Kharif (summer) season, Panjab cultivates paddy in around 3.2 million hectares. Efforts to conserve water face resistance due to free power subsidies that discourage the adoption of micro-irrigation systems, which cover just 49,780 hectares. Redirecting resources to subsidize drip irrigation and training farmers in operation and maintenance could mitigate groundwater depletion while boosting yields. Some farmers are embracing technological innovations, such as improvised tractor-boom sprayers with specialized tyres, enabling uniform pesticide application, reduced labor costs, and potential rental income. This machinery can treat forty-plus acres daily with fewer workers, though its broader application remains limited. Though Panjab is now massively cultivated on both sides of the border, on International Day of Forests 2025, it is worth remembering that the land was not always an endless stretch of fields. The forests in today’s Pakistan Panjab and areas like the Lakhi jungle and Mattewara in Indian Panjab once sheltered outlaws, inspired poets, shaped legends such as Hir-Ranjha and Mirza-Sahiba, and the guerrilla hero Dulla Bhatti. These woodlands were also safe haven for Guru Gobind Singh in 1704, illustrating how forests played a pivotal role in the region’s heritage. Subsequent canal-driven colonization and population pressures drastically altered these landscapes, but historians and environmental advocates now emphasize their significance. As Panjab grapples with pressing modern challenges—groundwater depletion, crop diversification, and innovation—its rich ecological heritage reveals the importance of balancing productivity with sustainability (earlier coverage).