Cotton as main cash crop attracts companies

The New Indian Express, April 23, 2007

Monday April 23 2007 15:03 IST
BHAWANIPATNA: Cotton is emerging as the main cash crop in western Orissa, with Kalahandi leading the way.

Black soil, favourable climate, agronomic conditions of the region and regular intervention of the Agriculture Department have come as a boon to the farmers here.

Presently, around 24,000 hectares are covered under cotton cultivation and the area is likely to be increased to 40,000 hectares, said sources. Result: Long staple cotton cultivation round-the-year. The demand for cotton, internationally, increased in the last two years after the farmers opted for organic cultivation following the outbreak of ‘American ball warm’ pest in 2001.

This attracted a large number of companies like Ecofarm of Maharashtra, Spectrum International Gujarat, National Organic, Maharashtra, Biorays of Koraput, Super Spinning Mill, Tamil Nadu, National Greenfield of Punjab, to Kalahandi.

These organisations encouraged farmers for bio-cultivation and provided them the latest know-how. However, in the last procurement season, they made a buy-back agreement with the farmers, thus dictating the prices. The prices were fixed at Rs 2,150 a quintal.

Yet another organisation Chetna, presently operational in the dryland and rainfed cotton belt of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu has entered Kalahandi. To start with, it tied up with a local NGO ‘Vision’ to create awareness among farmers, to facilitate technical support.

Addressing media persons, Chetna’s national director Arun Kumar Ambudipudi said: “To enable fair trading for cotton farmers, a national-level company will be launched by May-end.”

However, in this rush of companies, it’s the future of cotton growers that is at stake and it’s the responsibility of the district administration to look after them.