BATHINDA, Sept. 26 -- State agriculture minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Friday urged farmers in the Bathinda region to adopt crop varieties and farming practices suited to local agro-climatic conditions, particularly recommending Punjab Agricultural University's (PAU) PBD 88 non-shattering desi cotton variety to improve yields and reduce cultivation costs.

Addressing farmers at the annual Kisan Mela organised by agri varsity's regional research station in Bathinda, Khudian said closer coordination between agricultural research institutions and farmers was essential to make farming more sustainable and profitable.

Bathinda is part of Punjab's cotton belt and is also an important kinnow-producing area. Khudian stressed the need to choos...