With early rains, farmers in the district have opted for cotton cultivation. It was estimated that cotton was sown in about one lakh acres and the sowing may touch 1.82 lakh acres in the district.
During the last season, farmers got good price for cotton as the crop failed in some parts of Punjab and Pakistan due to pest, and the increased demand in the market.
With the hope that the same would be repeated this time, majority of the farmers have opted for cotton.
According to Madhavi Latha, Joint Director, Agriculture, paddy is being sown on 15,425 acres and it is stated that only 38% of sowing had taken place so far. Normal area of paddy in kharif is 40,763 acres, while sugarcane is being sown on 10,885 acres aginst the normal of 38,360 acres.
It was stated that only 33% of the sowing - counting to 26,310 acres - has taken place so far out of the total normal irrigated crops of 79,123 acres in the kharif season.
In dry crops, sowing of red gram on 11,275 acres, green gram on 3,248 acres and black gram on 3,063 acres is taking place.
Soyabean is being sown on 12,300 acres out of the normal area of 51,570 acres. Sowing of dry crops was done in 51% area.
Sowing area
“So far, sowing took place on 2,64,642 acres, out of the total normal area of 5,19,893 acres, which comes to 51% of sowing in the district,” said an official.
“Cotton sowing is expected to be four times more than paddy. Majority of the farmers opting cotton may not be a good omen. If there is a bumper harvest next year, the demand and price of cotton may come down which in turn will put farmers in debt trap . It would be better if farmers think twice before going for cotton sowing,” the official commented.
