Sirsa’s ‘White Gold’ turns to dust as farmers flock to water-thirsty paddy
Once hailed as the ‘City of White Gold’, Sirsa’s cotton legacy is fast fading as farmers increasingly switch to paddy, drawn by its perceived security despite ecological costs. Cotton, once the pride of this northwestern Haryana district, is losing ground both in acreage and output.
Year-wise comparison of acreage and output
Paddy
Year Area (hectares) Production (MT)
2020 1,0,0300 3,60,700
2021 1,04,800 3,69,400
2022 1,12,520 3,94,910
2023 1,26,740 4,58,230
2024 1,56,000 6,02,940
Cotton
Year Area (hectares) Production (MT)
2020 2,09,200 4,99,600
2021 1,87,500 4,25,800
2022 1,91,550 2,97,570
2023 1,85,100 6,34,550
2024 1,37,000 4,30,341
In 2024, paddy overtook cotton by a wide margin, covering 1.56 lakh hectares and producing over 6 lakh metric tonnes, compared to cotton’s 1.37 lakh hectares and 4.3 lakh metric tonnes.
The contrast is stark compared to Sirsa’s heyday from 2003 to 2014, when genetically modified Bt cotton seeds (BG-1 introduced in 2003 and BG-2 in 2005) sparked a revolution in output. The peak came in 2011, with 2.11 lakh hectares under cotton and a bumper production of 9.56 lakh metric tonnes.
But the tide began turning in the past five to six years. Cotton crops have been ravaged by whitefly and pink bollworm infestations, aggravated by unpredictable weather and stagnation in seed technology. Farmers now increasingly prefer paddy — despite its high water demand — even in water-stressed zones.
According to Agriculture Department data, cotton cultivation dropped from 2.09 lakh hectares in 2020 to just 1.37 lakh hectares in 2024. During the same period, paddy cultivation grew from 97,000 hectares in 2018 to 1.56 lakh hectares in 2024, with projections crossing 1.7 lakh hectares this year.
‘Blocked technology left us vulnerable’
Gurjeet Maan, a progressive farmer, says the initial success of Bt cotton masked a brewing crisis. “Bt seeds tackled bollworms, but pests evolved. Whitefly and pink bollworm are back, and there’s no new generation seed. Pesticide lobbies blocked BG-3, which could have helped. Now we face pest attacks every season. Many farmers like me have stopped growing cotton altogether.”
He also attributed increased pest attacks to rising temperatures and humidity levels.
Sandeep Kumar, sarpanch of Gigorani village in Nathusari Chopta, recalled how two consecutive years of pink bollworm infestations devastated cotton fields. “In 2022 and 2023, we lost nearly 90% of our crop. Many suffered losses up to Rs 50,000 per acre. Some got insurance, but many are still waiting for compensation.”
Economic and ecological fallout
Dr Anil Mehta, scientist incharge at the Central Institute for Cotton Research in Sirsa, attributed cotton’s decline to low yield caused primarily by insect attacks. “After harvesting, farmers leave cotton sticks in the fields or at home, allowing larvae to survive and attack the next crop. Also, water scarcity during sowing severely impacts germination.”
Meanwhile, Dr Sukhdev Kamboj, Deputy Director of Agriculture, warned against the long-term consequences of the shift to paddy. “Sirsa’s soil and water are not suitable for paddy. Tubewell water is mostly saline, and standing water raises salinity in the topsoil, harming fertility. Cotton seeds are still available, but we urgently need improved pest-resistant varieties.”
A call for policy change
Mahesh Sharda, former president of the India Cotton Association (Bathinda), says reviving cotton is not just about seeds, but also policy and demand. “Sirsa was once central to India’s cotton chain. Cotton supports food, feed and fibre industries. The government must fast-track a clear GMO policy so new seed technologies can reach farmers. Reviving textile units in cotton hubs like Sirsa can also boost demand and improve profitability.”
Haryana Tribune