Drought Threatens Cotton Crop in Adilabad, Telangana; Farmers Fear Losses Due to Declining Yields
Adilabad, Telangana: The cotton crop in the Adilabad district of Telangana is being adversely affected by a lack of rainfall and high temperatures. Due to insufficient soil moisture, cotton plants have begun to wither in many areas. Farmers fear that the lack of adequate rain could lead to a significant drop in production this season.
Cotton has been cultivated across approximately 4.30 lakh acres in the district. A prolonged dry spell has caused the condition of the crop to deteriorate in several villages. However, the extent of the damage varies depending on soil type, rainfall levels, and the availability of irrigation facilities.
Fears of a Decline in Cotton Yields
Kareniwal Gopal, a farmer from Tantholi village in the Adilabad rural mandal, stated that he has cultivated cotton on six acres. Despite having access to irrigation, he anticipates a lower yield. According to Gopal, for farmers who lack irrigation facilities, the yield could drop to as low as two quintals per acre.
Farmers note that black soil retains moisture for longer periods, which has kept the cotton crop in better condition compared to crops grown in red soil.
Expectations of a Rise in Cotton Prices
Farmers are hopeful that cotton prices could rise from the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹8,667 per quintal—as mentioned in the initial report—to as much as ₹10,000 per quintal. Whether such an increase will actually occur, however, will depend on market conditions.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department has prepared a preliminary report on the drought situation and submitted it to the state government.
According to the initial report, there is growing concern regarding water availability in the region's irrigation projects. Emphasis is being placed on reserving existing water stocks to meet drinking water requirements.
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