It is time for cotton farmers in the district as they have suffered heavy loss due to poor yield.

The good rain that the district received in the northwest monsoon had raised hope among the cotton farmers that they would get good harvest. However, field reports had suggested that the cotton production had taken severe hit because of crop failure.

As against the target of 13,600 hectares of land, hybrid cotton crop had been raised on 9,145 hectares of land, mostly in Ariyalur and Senthurai blocks, in the district.

Farmers had started harvesting the crop.

The harvest was expected to be over in the next one or two weeks as the crop had reached its maturity stage.

According to the ground reports received by the Agricultural Department, the yield was down by 40 per cent this season.

As against the average yield of 10 to 12 quintal per acre, the current season yield hovers between six and eight quintal.

A senior official of the Agricultural Department told The Hindu that water stagnation on cotton fields during the northwest monsoon had a huge impact on the yield of cotton.

The cotton crop would not withstand excess moisture and stress. Cotton fields had become stagnant with rainwater for more than a week at a stretch.

Moreover, farmers could not take up effective plant protection measures because of continuous rain.

Admitting that farmers had suffered heavy loss, an official said it was not possible for them to get back the investment on raising cotton crop.

Farmers might have spent not less than Rs. 20,000 an acre for raising cotton crop. However, only a few farmers, who had harvested high quality cotton, could get back the investment.

Most farmers could face losses.

Source - thehindu.com