Nellore farmers incur huge losses

Nellore: The Nellore farmers have incurred huge losses due to late sowing of seeds and improper management methods in cultivating a new variety of rice which has been giving good yields for farmers in Telangana region. Now with no other option of earning from the crop, the farmers have left the crops for farm and pet animals for grazing.

According to sources, the farmers observed good yielding of RNR 15048 variety, Telangana Sona, which is much popular in some areas in Telangana. As the news about good yields got viral on the social media, some farmers in Nellore district started cultivating the said variety.

However, they did not even consider of taking any advice from the agriculture scientists. They also got attracted to the false publicity and hype that the variety of rice was diabetic-friendly and had huge demand due to its low glycemic index and weight management properties. To earn good profits, 100s of farmers of Nellore district contacted local sellers and ordered for seed and sowed them in 100s of acres of land.

Hyderabad based Professor Jayashankar, Telangana State Agricultural University (PJSTAU), had developed the short term new rice variety. Farmers have cultivated the RNR 15048 variety in the district in Manubolu, Venkatagiri, Dakkili, Balayapalli, Rapur, Naidupet, Ozili, Chillakur, Kota, Chittamur, Vakadu and also in other mandals across the district.

It was like a craze to cultivate the new variety for good profits. But, it gave sleepless nights to Nellore farmers with no growth and failing to sustain due to unfavourable climatic conditions.

“It is basically a short duration crop with photosensitive nature. They are different from others and should be sown only during favourable climatic conditions. It is better after Nov 10 in the district during Rabi and after July in Kharif.

But, the farmers sowed in October which misfired leading to huge losses. There is no such evidence that they are low Glycemic Index. The farmers have to adopt perfect management of crops by taking advice from the scientists,” said B Ramesh Babu, Principal Scientist, Agriculture Research Station, Nellore.

In fact, the farmers purchased the seeds at higher cost when compared to normal BPT varieties. The ARS scientists said they had warned the farmers to cultivate in a limited quantity for testing efficacy of the variety initially and then go for larger extent. But, disregarding suggestions of the scientists, they cultivated in hundreds of acres expecting good returns.

Farmers purchased the seed at Rs. 900 per bag for one acre and within 20 days they started facing problems due to unfavourable climatic conditions for the crop.

“I had cultivated the new variety in 20 acres and pests have attacked to the crop within 20 days after sowing. I had spent nearly Rs.25,000 per acre on the crop still incurring losses up to Rs.5 lakh. Now, the crop is being used for grazing the cattle,’ said K Venkateswara Rao, a farmer from Rapur mandal.