SIRSANNA (ADILABAD): A large number of distressed cotton farmers in Sirsanna village of Adilabad district are removing or burning their dried cotton crops that pests had attacked and damaged in their fields. Some of them with water facility are planning to sow chana (Bengal gram or chickpea), but most are finding themselves helpless.
Tractor driver Baswanth Singh said he has removed damaged cotton crop from 10 acres land belonging to different farmers in Sirsanna village on Wednesday alone.
Kushnapalli Gangannna, who had cultivated cotton on his three acres and suffered losses due to pink bollworm, has let his cattle graze the crop. Similar is the case with Yennam Shivanna of Sirsanna village in Bela mandal.
Ganganna has requested the state government to conduct a survey, assess crop damage, and pay compensation to farmers who have suffered losses. He regretted that they have not even got their insurance money for their damaged crop, though banks had deducted the premium amount towards insurance when giving crop loans to farmers.
He requested that as promised by it, the state government must immediately take steps to waiver crop loans up to Rs. 1 lakh.
Many farmers in Bela and Jainad mandals are removing their standing cotton crop by hiring tractors. Some of them with watering facility may cultivate chana to overcome their losses.
Farmers say the cotton crop was good last year. They were hopeful of getting a good crop this year too. But they now feel shattered due to bad weather and pink bollworm attacking their crops.
