By Uma Shankar Kar - BHAWANIPATNA
Published: 17th December 2013 09:29 AM
Last Updated: 17th December 2013 09:29 AM
About 50 per cent of cotton plucking has been completed in Kalahandi district and about four lakh quintal of cotton is expected to be procured this year.
For this season, the cotton was grown in 43,056 hectares (ha) in the district which is highest among the districts in the State.
According to Agriculture department sources, initially about six lakh quintals of cotton were expected to be produced in the district.
But, about 20 per cent of the crop was damaged due to heavy rain that lashed the district in the effect of cyclonic storm Phailin.
Deputy Director of Agriculture, Kalahandi Range, Kailash Chandra Behera said about four lakh quintals of cotton production is expected.
However, he hoped that the loss would be compensated as the crop was of good quality and would fetch better price. Besides, the farmers, who opted for intercropping method, would harvest about 2.5 quintals of arhar per hectare. For procurement of cotton, mandis have been earmarked at Karlapada, Utkella, Utchlla and Biswanathpur. Karlapada and Utkella mandis have started functioning while others will start soon.
The mandis will run on a weekly basis and registered cotton trading organisations will procure the cotton from the specified mandis.
Temporary mandis may also come up at some places depending on the demand. According to reports, cotton was sold at the rate of `4300 per quintal against the supporting price of `4000 at Utkella mandi on December 4.
It has raised hope among the farmers that cotton may fetch better price if the procurement is strictly monitored by the administration.
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