Wary farmers pin hopes on groundnut crop

Vikarabad: After being hit by deficit rainfall, the farming community in the district is now focussing on groundnut crop. Groundnut has a good demand in the market and the crop has some advantages like low investment cost and early yield, which are impelling the farmers to go in for its cultivation. As the crops like green gram, tomato and corn are showing good yields, farmers are busy threshing them. They are also preparing fields to grow groundnut and preparing to sow the seeds in November. 

As per estimates, the groundnut is likely to be sown in 9,000 acres in the district and 600 quintals of seed are required for distribution in 44 villages in Pudur mandal. As many as 400 quintals were supplied to the mandal so far. A 25 kg bag is priced at Rs 813 on subsidy. Seeds will be kept available at the society office. A farmer in the mandal, who owns four acres, said that he sowed corn in two acres and cotton in another two acres but deficit rainfall led to the damage of cotton crop. He lamented that investment had been wasted. 

As there is no other option in near future, the farmers are preferring the ground nut, he opined.  Another farmer expressed similar hopes on the ground nut and said that for the last two rabi seasons, he had been cultivating the same crop. He said that if it yielded good produce this season as well, his financial problems would end. Officials said that they made arrangements to supply seeds to all and if required they would bring in more quantities. They advised the farmers to go for sowing as it was the right time.