Farmers incur heavy losses on turmeric

Kadapa: Agriculture has become totally unpredictable in the district and it is more like gambling for the distraught farmers. This year, in 2013, farmers in Mydukuru incurred heavy losses on both Rabi and Kharif crops. Last year, though the yield per hectare on turmeric was good, it failed to fetch remunerative prices for farmers, which in turn resulted in losses. With the result, farmers are now neck deep in debts. However, without giving up hope, farmers in Beechuvaripalle, Dumpalaguttu, Pichhapatipalle, Koonavripalle, Kottapeta, Kottanellore, and the surrounding villages covering Khajipet mandal cultivated the turmeric crop again in 1000 acres of agricultural lands by spending Rs 1 lakh on each acre. Earlier, the yield per acre was 30 to 40 quintals but now it has dropped to anywhere between 4 to 10 quintals. The farmers failed to get any returns on their investments. With the price of each quintal of turmeric fetching only Rs 6,000, farmers were pushed into severe debts. As farmers were facing severe hardships on account of losses on turmeric, they said that the government should come to their rescue.