Cotton production hit by unseasonal rains

Adilabad: cotton production has declined drastically due to extreme weather patterns at the stage of flowering. Heavy rains caused damage to crops, resulting in production declining.

Cotton farmers, who were jubilant at the Centre declaring higher minimum support price for cotton, were disheartened with the rains damaging the crops.

In one month between June and August an average of 1,035.6 mm rainfall was recorded as against the normal of 744.5 mm. Cotton crop in Adilabad district was sown in 3,48,237 acres and the production was expected to be around 25,90,715 quintals during this season. In the district, Boath, Echoda, Indravelli and Jainath market yards, cotton purchases did not exceed 5.76 lakhs quintals so far.

in August due to the heavy rains cotton crop was severely damaged and the yield dropped by 50 per cent. The average yield of cotton is 10 quintals an acre. But the yield declined by half. Cotton growers are always at a disadvantage and suffer losses.

Last year cotton production was good but lack of support price (Rs.4320) farmers were in loses. And now this year support price is good at Rs.5,450 but the production declined by 50 percent. As a result of which, the farmers may not be able recover even investment.

Cotton grower Raja Reddy in Sitagondi village under Gudihathnoor mandal said the yield had declined to 4 to 5 quintals this year when compared to 7 to 8 quintals per acre last year.

G Naveen Reddy of Echoda mandal said he had invested Rs10,000 per acre. But the yield had declined due to unseasonal rains. Adilabad market yard procured 10,68,923 quintals and now in this season 4,80,588 quintals were procured so far.