Dry spell hits cotton crop in Karimnagar, farmers worried

Cotton and paddy farmers in Karimnagar are facing distress due to a prolonged dry spell. With cotton seeds withering and paddy transplantation delayed, farmers fear crop loss. Rainfall is 19 percent below average compared to last year’s excess rainfall

Karimnagar: Cotton farmers in the district are worried as seeds are withering due to a prolonged dry spell. While some have re-sown their fields, others have lost hope.

Cotton is the second most cultivated crop in the district after paddy. Encouraged by early monsoon forecasts and pre-season drizzles, many farmers sowed cotton a month ago. Last year’s early sowing had yielded good returns.

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The Centre’s decision to raise the minimum support price (MSP) for cotton by Rs 589 also encouraged farmers to opt for the crop this season.

However, the lack of rainfall over the past month caused the soil to overheat, leading to seed failure in many areas. While some farmers replaced withered seeds, others have abandoned the crop.

In regions with black soil, the seed germinated using residual moisture, but weed growth has become a major concern, adding to farmers’ workload.

Paddy farmers are also awaiting rains. While seedlings are ready, transplantation has not begun due to the lack of water in irrigation sources. Only those with borewells or agricultural wells have started planting.

Karimnagar has received significantly lower rainfall this season. From June 1 to July 10, rainfall is 19 percent below average, compared to 32 percent excess rainfall during the same period last year.

Farmers fear their paddy seedlings may go to waste if transplantation is delayed. However, agriculture officials say there will be no major impact on yield if planting is completed by the end of this month.

The agriculture department estimates paddy cultivation over 2.76 lakh acres, out of a total cropped area of 3.43 lakh acres in this Vanakalam season. Cotton is expected to be sown in 48,000 acres.