Continuing rains wash away farmers' festive mood in region

Nagpur: The hopes raised by a good monsoon are being washed away by the unseasonal rains this year. For the first time in the recent past, it is past Diwali and cotton is yet to reach the markets yet. This means there is a little cash in the hands of farmers during the festive season.

The rains were normal this year, but were also delayed initially.

This pushed back the sowing to the end of June as against the first week of the month, so even the harvest has been delayed. Now, as the crop was ready to be harvested, the bouts of rain have damaged both cotton and soyabean say sources in the field as well as in the government.

Majority of the losses have occurred in western Vidarbha, which comes under Amravati division, said sources in the state’s agriculture department. Farmers from different parts of the region have been sharing pictures of damaged fields on social media.

Preliminary assessment says that as much as 32 lakh hectare land under cotton, soyabean and tur has been hit out of the over 38 lakh hectare area under cultivation of these crops. As against this, 8.15 lakh hectare of farm land in Amravati division has been covered under the Prime Minister Crop Insurance scheme, leaving the rest dependent on government packages, if any. The report shows over 14 lakh hectare of cotton was affected due to unseasonal rains in Amravati division.

The Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR), Nagpur, is apprehending a larger crisis and has sent teams across the country. A report is expected in a week.

PDKV research director Vilas Kharche said farmers who went in for early sowing have been saved from the damage. He also said timely measures by PDKV have minimized the loss to farmers. Last year, the university had ensured there was no cotton residual by December-January.

The loss comes at a time there is bearish outlook on cotton prices. Even as government purchases have not begun, open market rates are expected to slip below the minimum support price (MSP) of Rs 5,225 to Rs 5,550, said sources.

Soyabean purchase, which had started, has now been halted due to rains hampering further harvest. The crop is already fetching a rate below the MSP. As against MSP of Rs 3,700 a quintal, traders are offering not more than Rs 3,400 for soyabean, said farmers.

Farmers in Buldhana district, who were expecting a normal year after three years of dry spell, are now worried about saving their produce. Soyabean is the major crop in this area. Sadhamdhan Supekar, a farmer from Buldhana, said, “There would be hardly any farmers not affected by the rains. On one hand if the crop is down even the rates have slipped below MSP.”

Gopal Dhage of Chicholi village in Buldhana, who shared videos of his waterlogged fields, has the same story.

In Akot taluka of Akola district, farmer Vijay Ingle said, “It’s Diwali and farmers have little cotton stacked at their homes or barns. This time only a handful could reap any produce. Even if rates are slightly above MSP, there is hardly any cotton with farmers at this juncture,” he said.

IN A NUTSHELL

Farmers with irrigation harvest cotton a fortnight before Diwali

Delayed rains hit sowing, now unseasonal showers hamper harvest

Amravati division expected to be worse hit

Rates of cotton and soyabean below MSP