S. Harpal Singh
ADILABAD, DECEMBER 19, 2O24: The major cotton areas in Telangana, especially the cotton belt in the erstwhile united Adilabad district, have begun showing the adverse impact of the irregular monsoon earlier this year. Cotton fields are left with dry stubble only after two pickings of the crop instead of repeated flowering, which enables third or even fourth pickings.
Farming in most cotton areas, including the areas in question, is dependent on rainfall in the absence of irrigation facilities. This has proved to be an impediment to cotton cultivation for many years.
Farmers say this phenomenon decreases the yields for those dependent on the monsoon. “I may now have to be content with a yield of about 5 quintals of cotton per acre instead of 8 quintals,” pointed out Balaji Dawle, a farmer from Shyampur in Utnoor mandal of Adilabad district.
Meanwhile, the Cotton Association of India (CAI) has brought a bit of good news for farmers in Telangana as it has estimated its cotton pressing figures to be slightly higher in the State during the 2024-25 season which began on 1st October 2024 and ends on 30th September 2025. Against the cotton pressing figure of 34 lakh bales of 170 kg each last season, the estimated quantum this season is 36 lakh bales.
The apex cotton body in the country has retained the cotton consumption estimate during the year at 357.44 lakh bales. The same for the period ending November is 54 lakh bales with exports being pegged at 4 lakh bales.
The CAI has maintained its pressing estimate for the country for this season at 302.25 lakh bales while estimating the consumption to be of 313 lakh bales. The imports have been estimated to be 25 lakh bales which is higher by 9.8 lakh bales than last year.
The cotton exports, however, show a marked decline in the current estimates. Against the 28.36 lakh bales of exports last season, the estimates are pegged at 18 lakh bales in the current season.
Photo Captions
- Cotton being weighed at a private trader’s shop
2 and 3: Cotton field
- A woman labourer with the days’ pickings waiting to be transported
S Harpal Singh
Independent Journalist
Former Sr. Asst. Editor, The Hindu
ADILABAD-504001, TELANGANA
CELL: 94400 60060
email: hsinghs48@gmail.com
