Monsoon failure and disease attack has handed out a double whammy to the cotton farmers of Perambalur district.
The crop raised in Aadi (August) was due for harvest in January. However, the crop suffered damage in the flowering stage itself due to poor rainfall. To tide over the loss, the farmers resorted to second phase of sowing around November. Though farmers have incurred a huge expenditure of Rs. 40,000 an acre they anticipate a meagre harvest of 500 to 700 kg per acre this season against the normal 10 to 12 quintals. C. Rajendran of Kolathur village said that though the normal height of the crop is up to six feet, the plants withered away even before they could reach 1.5 feet height.
Though Bt cotton fetched excellent returns over the past few years, I’m surprised at the dramatic loss this year, the farmer said and demanded proper analysis of the seeds supplied during the season.
According to another farmer, R. Perumal Gounder of Padalur village, it was the total failure of monsoon between September and November, which cost the cotton farmers dearly. “I had raised loans from relatives and friends and invested about Rs. 1.25 lakh for raising cotton in five acres. The returns would be a meagre Rs. 50,000 or so,” said the distraught farmers indicating a huge loss.
The farmers have no option but to wait for six more months for the next Aadi Pattam .
Normally, cotton boll formation during December and early January gave hope for farmers over potential harvest. This season, however, cotton bolls developed several dots, indicating the incidence of diseases," said R. Raja Chidambaram, State secretary, Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam.
Scientists attached to the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University-Anbil Dharmalingam Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tiruchi, who inspected the crop , said that the unhelpful climatic condition triggered leaf hopper and fugal diseases in the crops.
Although bio-agents could help control the disease to some extent, chemical fertilizers would be more efficacious because of the nature and extent of the disease.
