Caught between tiger and cotton, Asifabad farmers face do or die situation

While the cotton crop ready for harvesting, venturing out into fields to harvest cotton balls has become a risky affair, with more than one tiger on the prowl

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Cotton farmers in many villages in the district are caught in a do or die situation. While their cotton crop is ready for harvesting, venturing out into the fields to harvest the cotton balls has become a risky affair, with more than one tiger on the prowl. One woman already lost her life to a tiger, while another farmer is still in hospital after a narrow escape from the jaws of a big cat.

During the winter season, the cotton farmers expect they will reap riches by harvesting the commercial crop which they have raised, facing odds and borrowing loans at exorbitant rates of interest. They grow the crop toiling throughout the day for four months. They endure health problems caused by spraying of toxic pesticides and heavy rains and chilly weather conditions in order to raise and protect the crop.

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The farmers cannot survive if they don’t harvest the cotton crop regarded as ‘White Gold’ in November and December months. They have to repay loans by selling the produce to a trader. They need to rent out farms for another season by investing the earnings. They are required to keep funds ready for various needs of themselves and their family members in a year.

“Farmers pin many hopes on the cotton crop. They use the profits gained through cultivating the cotton to provide education and to perform marriages of their children, to buy essential commodities, ornaments for their wives, to bear cost of medical services, and other emergencies. For them, tigers are part of their lives,” K Narayana, a farmer from Sirpur (T) opined.

However, for the farmers, harvesting the cotton produce is now fraught with danger with the increased movement of tigers and some of the big cats attacking them. Still, they are forced to risk their lives to collect the cotton balls even as forest officials advise them against venturing out onto the fields to harvest the cotton considering the possibility of being attacked by tigers.

“Despite repeated warnings, cotton farmers are reaching the farms by 8 am. They are not showing interest to leave the fields even though field staffers explain consequences of their act. We are in a helpless situation,” an official, who flew a drone camera to track movement of a tiger which mauled Morle Lakshmi (21) to death at Easgaon village in Kagaznagar mandal on Friday, said.

According to officials, tigers increasingly roam in agriculture fields in search of territory and partners for mating in winter. They consider the cotton farms as their hideouts. They pounce on humans if they bend down for picking balls by assuming them to be prey.