Bhaniram Bhambhu, a farmer from Kashi Ka Bas village in Haryana’s Sirsa district, has been growing cotton on 10 acres of land for the last three decades. Bhambhu grows BT cotton, a crop that has been frequently attacked by the dreaded pink bollworm since 2018, causing significant damage to farmers’ yields. But he is not worried about the pink bollworm or the white fly. Not since 2008.
Bhambhu’s sentiments are echoed by cotton farmers Rajesh Kaswan, Jagsir Singh, Amrit Chahal, Ranbir Malik Kulwant Singh and several others across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Their confidence stems from a pesticide-free technique they adopted a few years ago, which involves using 10 to 15 times less fertilizer than the conventional cotton farming practices in the North Zone, particularly in Punjab. Even when pests appear in their fields, these farmers refrain from using pesticides.
All these farmers are part of the ‘Dr Surender Dalal Keet Saksharta Pathshala (Pest Education School)’ movement, introduced by Dr Surender Dalal, a former Haryana agriculture development officer, in 2006. Under Dalal’s method, farmers use very little fertilizer and no pesticides, improving their yield, with no harm to the environment.
“Under Dalal farming, we organise free pathshalas (classes) to teach farmers how to identify pests. Once they learn to recognise pests, they are no longer afraid of them. When plant-damaging pests, which are herbivores, enter the fields, it is a certainty that natural predators, which are carnivores, and eat the herbivores, will also arrive to manage the pest population naturally. However, farmers often get scared when they see any pests. We teach them to observe rather than fear,” said Manvir Singh Reddu, who has been practising ‘Dalal farming’ since 2008 on his 6 acres in Igra village in Haryana’s Jind district.
“When a pest enters a field, it emits a scent that attracts its predators, which helps keep pest numbers in check. By understanding this natural process, farmers can reduce chemical use and foster a healthier environment for their crops,” said Reddu, a Pathshala instructor who has trained hundreds of farmers, who are in turn, organising their own classes now.
Thousands of farmers across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan have adopted the ‘Dalal farming’ technique at a time when pink bollworm has been damaging crops every year, adversely affecting annual yields, forcing farmers to either abandon cotton farming, reduce the area of cultivation, or demand new pest-resistant seed technologies.
In fact, in 2024, there was a significant decrease in the cotton-growing area in the North Zone, which dropped from 18.80 lakh hectares in 2023 to 13.22 lakh hectares in 2024, with Punjab being the most affected, recording the lowest area under cotton cultivation in the state’s history—just under 1 lakh hectares.
Charting a new course: The process
According to Reddu, the key to successful ‘Dalal farming’ lies in the method of sowing the seeds. “In farming, we use an east-to-west drilling method for sowing the seeds,” he said. “This direction aligns with the natural flow of air and sunlight during summers, creating a better environment for plant growth. In contrast, most conventional farmers sow their seeds in a north-to-south direction,” he added.
Reddu says that east-to-west alignment allows for better air circulation, ensuring that the plants receive the right levels of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and hydrogen. “We also use a foliar spray made with urea, DAP, magnesium sulfate, and zinc, which helps improve cotton yield during key growth periods. The amount used is very low compared to the quantities typically used by conventional farmers,” he added.
The ghols (mixtures) used to maintain plant health throughout the cotton growing season include Dalal Ghol, Rehru Ghol, Parivahan Ghol and Potash Ghol.
* Dalal Ghol consists of 2.5 kg of DAP, 2.5 kg of urea, and 0.5 kg of zinc, mixed with 100 litres of water. It is applied to plants, with one batch sufficient for one acre if the plants are small. For larger plants, the amount can be doubled.
* Rehru Ghol includes 2.25 kg of DAP, 1.5 kg of zinc, 2.5 kg of urea, 100 litres of water, and three pouches of any shampoo.
* Parivahan Ghol consists of 1 kg of magnesium sulfate, 2.5 kg of urea, 0.5 kg of zinc, and 100 litres of water.
* Potash Ghol is used at the time of crop ripening and helps develop the cotton boll.
While Dalal and Rehru mixtures are applied after rainfall or when water is available, starting 45 days after sowing, Parivahan Ghol is sprayed in August, about a month before the first cotton harvest.
In contrast, conventional farmers use about 135 kg of urea (costing around Rs 800) and 50 to 60 kg of DAP (costing around Rs 1,600) per acre. With ‘Dalal farming’, the cost is much lower: Rs 15 for urea, Rs 70 for DAP, and similar amounts of other fertilizers. The total expenditure for these mixtures is less than Rs 500 per acre, with no pesticide costs. Conventional farmers, who spend Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 per acre on pesticides, end up spending Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per acre on fertilizers and pesticides, whereas under ‘Dalal farming’, the cost is only around Rs 500 per acre and yield is more.
“By spacing the plants correctly, we ensure that pests cannot multiply quickly enough to reach the Economic Threshold Level, minimising the risk of significant pest damage,” explained Reddu.
‘Dalal farming’ relies on nature to control pests. “We allow predators like birds and beneficial insects to naturally come and manage the pest population. When we keep our plants healthy, the predators follow,” he added.
The Pathshala is affiliated with Punjab Agro, Gian Vigyan and Kheti Virasat Mission, organisations that educate farmers about understanding pests and plant health.
