Rain Awaited in Karimnagar; Drought Affects Cotton Crop Growth
Karimnagar, Telangana: Cotton farmers in Karimnagar district are awaiting rainfall from the northeast monsoon. Due to a prolonged dry spell, the cotton crop has begun to wither in several areas of the district, and plant growth has been stunted. According to farmers, the condition of the cotton crop in fields with red soil is worse compared to those with black soil.
Cotton has been cultivated across approximately 46,000 acres in Karimnagar district this season. It is the district's second most important crop after paddy. Since cotton requires less water than paddy, not only traditional cotton growers but also other farmers have cultivated it over a large area this time.
Farmers state that the cotton crop has faced water scarcity since the beginning of the Kharif season. Despite timely sowing, the lack of adequate rainfall delayed seed germination in many areas. Subsequently, the prolonged absence of rain hindered the crop's growth. Farmers fear that if the dry conditions persist, cotton yields could drop by as much as 50 percent.
Ujjagiri Gangaiah, a farmer from Venkatagiri village in Ramadugu Mandal, has cultivated cotton on four acres and paddy on three acres. He reported that despite having a well, there is insufficient irrigation water for both crops. According to him, the delay in germination has resulted in stunted cotton plants. This is expected to adversely affect the number of flowers and the overall yield. Gangaiah mentioned that he has spent over ₹30,000 per acre on cotton cultivation and is now worried about recovering his costs.
Manda Rajamallaiah, a farmer from Gopalpur in Karimnagar Rural Mandal, stated that soil moisture levels have depleted due to high temperatures and the prolonged dry spell. He believes that the crop can be saved if there are two good spells of rain. According to Gangayya, rainfall every 10–15 days until Diwali would help improve the condition of the crop.
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