Heavy rains damage cotton crop in Karimnagar district

Heavy rains and prolonged waterlogging in Karimnagar have severely damaged the cotton crop during its flowering and budding stage. Farmers invested in fertilisers and pesticides, but excessive rains and past dry spells threaten yields on approximately 48,000 acres

Karimnagar: The unrelenting rains this season are proving disastrous for cotton farmers across the district. While paddy remains largely unaffected, prolonged waterlogging in fields has severely damaged the cotton crop.

With the crop in its flowering and budding stage, farmers had invested heavily in fertilisers and pesticides to ensure a good yield. However, the recent heavy rains have destroyed flowers and buds, leaving farmers anxious. Stems have turned black and leaves red due to stagnant water in the fields, signalling crop distress and a possible fall in yields.

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Encouraged by early monsoon forecasts and last year’s bumper harvest, many farmers had taken up cotton cultivation well in advance this Vanakalam season. The Centre’s decision to raise the minimum support price (MSP) for cotton by Rs 489 per quintal further boosted their confidence.

But their hopes soon dimmed as a dry spell in June and July caused cotton seeds to wither. While some replaced the crop with fresh seeds, others abandoned cultivation altogether. Ironically, when the rains finally arrived in August and September, they came in excess.

The district recorded 283.5 mm rainfall in August against a normal 203.6 mm, and 275.8 mm in September compared to a normal 151.6 mm. The continuous downpour left fields waterlogged for weeks, worsening the damage to standing crops.

Cotton, next only to paddy in acreage, is being cultivated on about 48,000 acres in Karimnagar district this year. Farmers, who once prayed for rain, are now worried that the showers may wash away their season’s hopes.