Balangir: While it is time for harvesting, cotton farmers of Patnagarh block in this district seem a worried lot following crop failure.
Known as the cotton belt of Balangir district, Patnagarh produces best quality cotton. In the current kharif season, cotton has been grown in 27,467 hectares (ha) which is in ‘boll bursting’ stage and harvesting will begin within a few days.
Sources, however, said unfavourable weather condition in September and October had an adverse impact on the crop. Rain and overcast weather condition in the last week of September and second week of October played spoilsport. Such unfriendly weather affected the crop adversely as either “boll bursting” has not taken place or the bolls have become black. Moreover, there has been drastic fall in the number of bolls for each plant this year, it added.
Some farmers have even indicated that they have no option but to migrate to other States for work to make up for the loss.
“We were expecting a good harvest this year as initially cotton crop was growing very well. But after Nuakhai (in September), the crop failed due to adverse weather condition. There used to be at least 50/60 bolls per plant for a good yield of the crop. But this year, it has come down to 10/15 bolls per plant. We will incur a heavy loss this year,” a cotton farmer said.
Similarly, another farmer said they had no option but to leave their villages to work elsewhere to earn their living.
Distress sale for Nuapada cotton farmers
Nuapada: Cotton farmers of Nuapada district are staring at the prospect of selling their produce at lower rates due to unavailability of mandis in the area.
Moreover, the mandis present in the district are yet to open this season leaving farmers with no option other than distress sale. After bearing the brunt of cyclone Titli earlier this season, farmers who have been waiting anxiously to earn some profit from cotton farming are staring at uncertainty.
“We had good crop this year, but after rain, the government hiked cotton prices. As mandis are closed we are forced to go for distress sale,” a farmer said.
Official sources said cotton was cultivated in around 9,723 hectare land this year, but due to delay in opening of mandis, farmers are willing to sell the produce at Rs 4000 per quintal instead of the government-fixed rate of Rs 5,450 per quintal.
On the other hand, the district agricultural authorities have assured that the harvested crop will be bought from the farmers once the mandis are opened by December 10.
“After holding a meeting on procurement we had tried to open the mandis by November end, but we could not. We will try to begin the process by December 10,” Deputy Director of Agriculture, Jehad Mohammad said.
PNN