In the undivided Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh, cotton loses its status as the "most profitable crop."
Cotton cultivation in the undivided Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh has seen an alarming decline in recent years, raising concerns among both the farming community and the scientific fraternity.
Historically, the district accounted for almost 70% of the state's total cotton yield, with its natural-colored produce having significant export potential. The Mungari variety, cultivated since the early 1900s, was even hailed as 'white gold'. During the 1990s, average yields ranged between 10 and 25 quintals per acre, thanks to dominant hybrids such as Mallika, Bunny, Brahma, and NHH-44. The introduction of transgenic cotton between 2002 and 2006 initially appeared promising.
However, cotton no longer holds the title of 'most profitable crop' due to various factors. The reorganization of Kurnool district two years ago shifted most of the cotton-growing area to rainfed Kurnool, leading to a significant reduction in acreage. Present-day Kurnool witnessed a 26% reduction, from 2.50 lakh hectares to 1.83 lakh hectares in 2023-24. Nandyal experienced an even more drastic 70% fall, from 25,586 hectares to just 7,932 hectares.
Despite being a cash crop with attractive prices, cotton has become less appealing to farmers over the last decade due to late monsoon onset, early withdrawal, and unexpected cyclones during October-November attributed to climate change.
Pest infestations have further exacerbated the situation. The incidence of pink bollworm has surged over the last decade due to the failure of Bt transgenic cotton to offer protection, as the pest developed resistance. Tobacco streak virus has also added to the woes of cotton farmers in Kurnool and Nandyal districts, as noted by M. Sivarama Krishna, a scientist in entomology at the Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) in Nandyal.
In response, many farmers are abandoning cotton in favor of more remunerative short-duration crops such as maize and soybeans. This migration is especially evident in Nandyal, where farmers have assured irrigation from sources like the Kurnool-Cuddapah Canal and Telugu Ganga Canal. In contrast, their counterparts in rainfed Kurnool remain burdened by the pest menace with few alternatives in sight.
Dr. Sivarama Krishna suggests several measures to address the issue, including cultivating medium to short-duration and early-maturing Bt hybrids (150 days), implementing a strict six-month crop-free period, and using mating disruption technology for off-season management of pink bollworm.
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