Even as the Union government is struggling to boost the country's agriculture extension system, pesticide and crop chemical manufacturers have joined hands with rural ngos to promote safe and judicious usage of pesticides among the farmers.

Cotton production in India is likely to sustain its growth trend during the current season. The Cotton Advisory Board (cab) under the ministry of textiles, at its recent meeting, has estimated the production at 310 lakh bales of 170 kg each - about 11 per cent higher than last season's figure of 280 lakh bales.