US-China ‘war’ hits Telangana cotton: Centre must rescue us, say Warangal growers

Warangal: Farmers in Warangal are unaware of the unfolding global trade situation and are going about tending their cotton crop as if everything is normal. They received good prices for their crop last year and expect a repeat this year.

In Warangal Rural district, farmers have sowed cotton on 65,717 hectares against the normal of 70,165 hectares. In Warangal Urban, cotton was sowed in 30,871 hectares while the normal area is 31,265 hectares.

The Kharif season began late due to the delayed monsoon and farmers are expecting to harvest the cotton after Diwali. The off-season price at the Enumamula agriculture market is between Rs 5,600 and Rs 6,075 a quintal.

Mr B. Keshava Rao, of Girnibavi in Warangal Rural, who has two acres under cotton, said the farmers expected a good crop as a result of the adequate rainfall this year. “Last year the price was good and the state provided special cotton procurement centres due to which we were able to sell our cotton at a good price without incurring losses. We were not told about the price decline in international market,” he explained.

Farmers say the state government and the Centre must be aware of the situation in the international markets. If the price declines by the time the cotton is ready for sale, the government must ensure that farmers are not at loss by bringing out schemes to benefit them, farmers said.

“The Rythu Bandhu scheme came in handy during the Rabi season but this time we have not received any money. The cotton procurement centres helped us in a big way. The state must come up with similar steps,” said Mr Banoth Shankar Naik of Narsampet.

He said suicides among cotton farmers had come down considerably during the past years.

“If the cotton prices are hit as anticipated, the government must take all steps to avoid distress of cotton farmers,” Mr Naik said.