Rain Revive Hopes of Good Cotton Yield in Adilabad
Most mandals that had earlier faced a significant rainfall deficit have now received recent rains and are recording normal rainfall, bringing relief to farmers
ADILABAD: Farmers in Adilabad district are hopeful of a good Kharif yield as timely rains have improved the condition of standing cotton, soybean and red gram crops following a prolonged dry spell. Local streams and rivulets have also received inflows from the rains recorded over the past 15 days.
Most mandals that had earlier faced a significant rainfall deficit have now received recent rains and are recording normal rainfall, bringing relief to farmers.
Farmer Edla Venkanna of Landasangi village in Adilabad mandal, who was busy with ‘doura kottudu’ (weeding) in his agricultural field, said the cotton crop was in good condition and that timely rains had improved the situation.
Venkanna said he received `18,000 under Rythu Bharosa on time for his 3.5 acres at Neerala, which helped meet his agricultural investment needs. He said he had not received Rythu Bharosa payments on three occasions during previous seasons. He added that he had taken six acres of land on lease at Landasangi for `22,000 an acre.
Many farmers are now busy with weeding operations in their cotton, soybean and red gram fields. Some have also cultivated red gram as an intercrop in cotton to help avoid pest attacks.
Farmer Ashok of Arli (B) said the timely rains had brought a sigh of relief after the prolonged dry spell. Many farmers had been worried about the standing crops and had almost lost hope of a good yield, he said.
Cotton was sown in 4.30 lakh acres in Adilabad district during the Kharif season. Some farmers who sowed cotton early suffered losses due to poor germination caused by inadequate soil moisture, while others resowed the crop after receiving rains.
Farmers have also begun spraying pesticides on standing cotton crops as the plants reach the required growth stage.
Adilabad collector Rajarshi Shah stressed the need to conserve rainwater in view of the effects of El Nino and to ensure water availability for future agricultural and drinking water needs.
