Pest attack on the cotton crop as a result of summer rains has affected the production and quality of the product this year, cotton farmers in Karaikal said, and demanded that the Puducherry government expedite insurance for yield loss. Pest attacks have added to the woes of farmers due to poor prices for private procurement of cotton.
“Sucking pests like mealybugs (‘maavu poochi’) and aphids (‘aswini poochi’) have affected the quantity and quality of our produce. The fall in demand has already affected prices, and with the decline in quality Because prices have come down to Rs 50 per kg. We request to expedite insurance to cover our losses,'' said farmer-representative BG Somu. According to the Puducherry agriculture department, this year Karaikal has around Cotton was cultivated on 1,200 hectares, double that of last year.A surplus in supply led to a reduction in demand, as the average selling price fell from Rs 90 to Rs 65.
Due to unseasonal rains, the crops got attacked by pests during the tillering period. Noting that the pest is not uncommon this year, agriculture department officials assured that cotton was covered under the crop insurance scheme. A senior agriculture department official said, "We are regularly giving expert recommendations for pest control to farmers. Crop labor costs have gone up for farmers, while procurement rates have come down. This has resulted in loss of their profits." has increased."
Representatives of Karaikal District Delta Farmers Welfare Association met Collector A Kulothungan on Thursday and urged him to provide insurance for the lost produce. “Crop insurance is pending for the past few years. The loan waiver announced by the government is yet to materialize, and pending old loans have put cultivation of the upcoming crop in question and made our cotton cultivation unviable We request the Puducherry government to settle the old loans and help us take new loans," said P Rajendhiran, president of the association.
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