Cultivating desi cotton for securing livelihood of farmers in dryland saline areas of Gujarat

Abstract

In saline rainfed areas of Gujarat, where availability of canal water is scare and ground water is saline, desi cotton (Gossypium herbaceum) serves as a lifeline to secure livelihood of farmers. Because of its inherent characteristics like low water requirement, lower susceptibility to pest and diseases, minimum cost of cultivation, it enables resource poor farmers to get sufficient income from available resources. Field trials of desi cotton (G Cot 23) in Bhal areas of Gujarat have shown that it gives comparatively better yield (up to 12 q/ha) in dryland salinity. Farmers were satisfied with the characteristics of desi cotton which helped it to tolerate salinity and drought like situation, however showed negative perception about its longer life cycle, low yield as compared to Bt cotton. Provision of quality and improved seed of desi cotton to the farming community in this area is likely to help in increasing yield of cotton, income and standard of living of the farmers in the region.