Farmers in Vidarbha may harvest cotton after Diwali
Nagpur: Farmers in the cotton-producing region of Vidarbha will not be able to harvest their first crop before the festive season, leaving many farmers facing a cash crunch around Diwali.
According to sources, adverse weather conditions have further exacerbated the problems of cotton growers, who are already grappling with falling prices following the abolition of import duties amid the tariff dispute with the US.
Cotton is a major crop in western Vidarbha, which falls under the Amravati revenue division. This division cultivates cotton on over 3 million hectares of land, which has also been affected by heavy rains this year.
State agriculture department officials said the flush is expected to arrive in mid-October or later, meaning the crop will be ready for harvesting by the end of the month. The wet weather has affected boll formation, delaying harvesting in many areas until after Diwali.
Officials monitoring the situation said, "Usually, the first cotton crop is expected to arrive between Dussehra and Diwali, but this time the first cotton crop is likely to arrive only after the festivals. This means that many farmers will not be able to raise cash for the festivals by selling their produce during the festivals."
A senior official from the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) confirmed this situation. Typically, cotton requires mild temperatures and dry weather to set kernels on time.
However, since cotton is a perennial crop, farmers can make up for the losses later.
A source said, "If the weather becomes dry soon, the cotton seeds are likely to set. However, forecasts are pointing to more rain." Meanwhile, farmer Manohar Jadhav in Yavatmal shared photos of his field, showing dried cotton plants and very few seeds.
"Heavy rains have hampered the formation of bolls, resulting in stunted vegetative growth. The plants have only grown tall and have very little crop," said Vijay Jawandhiya, a senior activist with the Shetkari Sanghatana.
read more :- CCI Sells 88.4% of Cotton Procurement via E-Bidding, 22,800 Bales Weekly
