2 days ago
Green gram, cotton likely to be hit by copious rainfall in Yadgir district
Copious rainfall that lashed Yadgir district in the last couple of days will possibly damage green gram and cotton crops.
According to information provided by the Statistical Department, the district received 23 mm rainfall in 24 hours ended at 8.30 a.m. on Thursday against an average of 7 mm.
The taluk-wise rainfall that was recorded is as follows: Shahapur 13.8 mm against 5.5 mm average, followed by 9.3 mm against 5.3 mm in Shorapur, 35 mm against 9 mm in Yadgir, 51.5 mm against 5.5 mm in Gurmitkal, 24.3 mm against 14.1 mm in Wadagera and 8.7 mm against 3.5 mm average in Hunsagi, respectively.
Following widespread rainfall, the moisture level in soil has exceeded as rainwater stagnated between two lines of cotton crop which has already crossed the age of 45-50 days.
'If the same situation continues, cotton crop will possibly get withered or damaged due to the heavy amount of moisture in soil,' Joint Director of the Agriculture Department Ratendranath Sugur has said.
Green gram, which is considered a short-term cash crop, has reached harvesting stage as it has crossed 55-60 days. However, farmers are unable to harvest standing crops owing to copious rainfall.
Most of the farmers who depend on machines for harvesting are not ready to venture into their fields and are waiting for some respite from rain.
If it continues to rain, there is a possibility of germination in seeds or their quality may get affected.
Earlier, farmers expected a good yield as they carried out sowing activities soon after pre-monsoon rain arrived in some parts of the district.
According to Agriculture Department sources, green gram has been taken up in 13,108 hectares, while cotton covers 193,539 hectares, as it is a major crop in the dry and also irrigated areas.
'I suffered loss after cultivating a Guntur breed red chilli crop owing to a price crash in the open market. Now, I am facing the threat of another crop damage, as I have taken up cotton in three acres of my dry land,' a farmer from Madriki village Amaresh Anegundi said and added that it has now become a distant dream for any farmer to benefit from agriculture due to changes in climate.
