The continuous rain during the past one-week in the district has clouded the future of cotton farmer, as the ready-to-pick cotton in the fields got discoloured. If rains hit the district in next few days, it will turn a disaster for the cotton farmer here.
Joint Director, Agriculture, B. Narasing Rao has said this year in the district farmers cultivated cotton in more than 3 lakh acres against the target of 1.93 lakh hectares. With the district receiving excess rainfall during the first four months of kharif season, the flowering of the cotton was not on expected lines.
Though the flowering did not improve much, the farmers at least were expecting to get back their investment with the first and second pickings. But, the rain destroyed their plans and the cotton changed its colour. With the CCI not setting up purchasing centres, the middlemen were purchasing the cotton at very low price showing the discoloured and wet cotton as reason. Some farmers were offered Rs. 4,500 quintal and some Rs 3,500.
Speaking to The Hindu , a women farmer from Palem village in Nakerkal mandal, Ch.Renuka, who was spotted picking the cotton in her field, said that the stored cotton in the house was also turning black because the continuous rains would increase moisture content in the air.
