ADILABAD: Farmers are in a dilemma over going in for alternative crops like red gram or soya instead of cotton for kharif following the forecast of heavy rains in Adilabad district. The state government is trying to discourage cotton cultivation.
Farmers say that the yield of soya or red gram will fall drastically if the district receives heavy rains in September when the crop is at flowering stage. Soya and red gram are short duration crops while cotton is long duration.
Some farmers emphasise that there would be not much damage to cotton crop even if there are heavy rains as cotton will be ready for harvesting by October or November and the rains will help in its growth.
According to agriculture officials, the normal area of cotton is 3.80 lakh hectares but it was cultivated only in 3.37 lakh hectares last year. Agriculture officials are making efforts to limit cotton cultivation to 2.80 lakh hectares as per the TS government’s policy.
On the other hand, the Central government has increased the MSP for pulses to Rs 425 per quintal. Farmers are happy with this hike in MSP for pulses, but the forecast of heavy rains is forcing them to rethink about opting for soya or red gram in Adilabad.
