Incessant rains cause heavy losses to cotton farmers

Boath (Adilabad): Cotton farmers of the constituency including Boath, Bazar Hatnoor, Icchoda, Neradigonda, Gudi Hatnoor and Sirikonda mandals have incurred enormous loss as the cotton that was ready for yielding was damaged due to continuous rains for a week now.

The farmers are worried over fallout of the untimely rains. They said the cotton yielding would go down by 50 per cent. Farmers under the limits of Boath division have cultivated cotton in about 1.5 lakh hectares. They have made their crops reach yielding stage by controlling various kinds of pests at various stages of the crop.

A woman farmer, Rathod Suguna from Jalda in Icchoda mandal, said she leased 15 acres and cultivated cotton crop. She said she has spent Rs 35,000 per acre including lease amount. “The untimely rains damaged the cotton to be yielded in the first phase. Raw cotton turned black. I am not even that I will get at least the investment,” she added.

Gangaiah of Garjam village said he invested Rs 30,000 on each acre of his 10 acres. He said he doesn’t know what to do as his crop got damaged adding that the produce wouldn’t get remunerative price.

The farmers alleged that agriculture officers are least concerned to inspect fields. They appealed to the government to come to their aid.

The Farmers’ associations demand the officials concerned to conduct survey on crop loss and disburse compensation to farmers accordingly.

By: Sai Kiran Jadhav