MUMBAI (Commoditiescontrol) - Cotton growers in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region are likely to witness tough times ahead, especially in Beed and Jalna districts of Aurangabad division, with their crop finding it difficult to progress in a normal manner. As per trade sources, its been nearly 17 days Marathwada received the last rainfall.
Erratic and irregular rains in the districts have prevented cotton crop from germinating. Also, high temperatures are affecting cotton seedlings on some fields. Most of the farmers here began sowing cotton in June after timely and good onset of monsoon rains. Farmers have been suffering a drought like situation continuously from the last 3-4 years. However, after the normal start, the area recorded scattered and isolated rainstorms which failed to put enough moisture on the fields.
To start planting kharif cotton in June, farmers had borrowed money/loans from banks and moneylenders to facilitate their irrigation requirements. Now, if their crop do not progress in the desired manner, they are bound to face serious financial turmoil. As it is, the entire process of farming demands huge amount of money, right from buying seeds to harvesting.
Shortfall in rains also halted further sowing of the crop, according to trade sources. Farmers will have to resow the fields on which they have already planted cotton if rains does not revive in the next 5-10 days.
Cotton trader and farmer from Gevrai Tehsil in Beed District, Mr. Prashant Jakhotiya shared the similar viewpoint with commoditiescontrol.com. He said that cotton crop may be subjected to heavy losses, followed by possible resowing, if the area does not receive regular rainfall in the next 5-7 days.
Crop planted in plain areas are subjected to heatwaves, on the other hand, crop in slightly elevated areas have started withering.
According to data provided by the Agriculture Ministry, cotton was sown in around 6.01 lakh hectares (ha) in Aurangabad division as on 1st July, 2015, which is 77 percent of the total sowing area. Whereas, the state government had set normal cotton area target of 7.76 lakh ha for 2015-16. Last year same time, cotton was planted in around 38,000 ha area.
While in Latur division, cotton was sown in around 3.48 lakh ha as of 1st July, 63 percent of the total sowing area. While, 5.53 lakh ha is the normal area decided by the state government. Last year same time, 43,000 ha area was sown under cotton. In Latur, the most affected district is Parbhani. And in Aurangabad division, Beed and Jalna are the worth affected areas so far, according to market sources. Though, Mr. B.M. Gaikwad, Deputy Director of Agriculture sought exact data on areas which have damaged and where re-sowing is required.
Cotton farmer and ginner from Partur, Jalna district, Mr. Prashant Aggarwal says that around 50 percent sowing has been completed in Partur and nearby areas. The farmers in the area are awaiting rains from the last 15-17 days, he added. Lack of rain paused development of seeds which had been sown in mid-June. Farmers in the area are shying away from planting cotton on the empty fields. However, he believes that resowing of cotton at this junction is unlikely provided weather remains cool, unlike few of the pulses crops which require to be re-sown immediately. He adds that on the whole, cotton targeted area this year is likely to be around 15 percent lower than last year as most of the farmers have shifted to soybean and pulses crop.
The above assumptions are further supported by the private weather forecaster, Skymet’s recent statement that Marathwada would continue to observe prolonged dry weather in July along with north interior Karnataka and South interior Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that out of normal rainfall of 148.90 MM, Marathwada received 119.60 MM in June, down 20 percent.
(By Commoditiescontrol Bureau; +91-22-40015534)
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