Farmers reap profits from cotton crop

Expressbuzz, Jan 26, 2010

BHAWANIPATNA: Notwithstanding erratic rainfall and other adversities, the cotton crop in the district was good this year.


According to reports of Agriculture Department, during the current year farmers have sold cotton worth over Rs 29 crore through mandies of regulated marketing society. Due to adverse weather, cotton coverage during the kharif season was reduced to 18,340 hectares (ha) this year compared to last year’s 20,000 ha. From this 18,340 ha, farmers harvested 93,139 quintals of cotton. Coverage of the crop was extensive in black cotton areas of Bhawanipatna, Golamunda, Kesinga and Narla blocks. In most areas, farmers resorted to mixed crops with pulses like ‘Kandula’ dal. Farmers said the yield of cotton was less than last year’s and the input cost was high but the produce has been better than paddy and other crops.

Following intervention of the Cotton Corporation of India, nine private procuring agencies came forward for procurement this year. Farmers were paid Rs 3,000 per quintal of cotton procured.