Maharashtra: Appeal to avoid over-harvesting of cotton
By yash chouhan 2025-12-01 12:01:07
Maharashtra: Avoid overharvesting cotton; Agriculture Department appeals
Jalgaon: Khandesh has a large cotton crop. Farmers often harvest cotton with excessive harvesting or stubble. This prevents the pink bollworm from ending its life cycle. The Agriculture Department has appealed to avoid overharvesting cotton.
Many planters and pre-season cotton growers have harvested their cotton crop due to pressure on cotton prices. Furthermore, there are various rumors surrounding prices. The pink bollworm has also increased in the crop. Consequently, farmers have harvested cotton with excessive harvesting or stubble. Summer, or Rabi, sowing is underway.
Cotton is grown on 511,000 hectares in Jalgaon district. Of this, approximately 150,000 hectares were planted for pre-season cotton. 100% of the pre-season cotton is being harvested. There are also calls to harvest dry cotton crops later, or after the cotton harvest. In Dhule, approximately 55,000 to 60,000 hectares of pre-season cotton has been cleared. Nandurbar also reports approximately 80 percent of the cotton-under-planted area being cleared.
Cotton prices were low in early November. Meanwhile, the price was ₹7,000 per quintal. However, by the end of November, prices continued to fall. There has been no increase in prices currently or in the last five to seven days.
Fardad is not affordable
Due to the lack of market momentum, buyers are reluctant to purchase Fardad cotton. This causes losses to farmers. Currently, only half a quintal of Fardad cotton can be harvested per acre. Considering the labor costs for harvesting and other matters, the cost is at least ₹4,000.
This has led farmers to refrain from purchasing Fardad cotton. Farmers with access to water have started sowing wheat and millet. Wheat sowing is also continuing in Khandesh. Some farmers are clearing cotton fields to plant early-maturing maize varieties.
