TS farm forecast goes awry

Those who grew cotton benefited; red gram farmers hit

In the last Kharif season, the total area under cotton was 12.39 lakh hectares, against the season normal of 17.09 lakh hectares. It was 16.93 lakh hectares in 2015 and 15.49 lakh hectares in 2014.

The total area under red gram was about 5 lakh hectares as against the season normal of 2.6 lakh hectares. It was 2.48 lakh hectares in 2015 and 2.32 lakh hectares in 2014.

Farmers who cultivated cotton against official advice have done very well while farmers who cultivated red gram and were supported by the state government have seen falling prices with a glut in the market.

Cotton farmers are getting `4,160 per quintal at Mancherial and `5,830 per quintal at Madnur for the common variety from private traders. The minimum support price for medium staple cotton is between `3,800 and `3,860 and long staple from `4,100 to `4,160.

The sales of red gram (tur dal, kandi pappu) are sluggish, with a glut in the market. Red gram is purchased by Markfed, Hyderabad Agricultural Cooperative Association and Food Corporation of India at the MSP of `5,050 per quintal while traders are paying just `4,225 (Bhainsa) to `4,600.

“It’s a fact that cotton growers are getting good returns due to a good crop

Cotton farmers are being paid more than minimum support price, those who grew red gram are being exploited.

across the state. There is a problem with regard to red gram because of the glut in the market,” agriculture secretary C. Parthasarathy told this newspaper.

He said the government was buying red gram from farmers in distress and has opened 65 centres for the purpose. “Cotton is being purchased above the MSP, but there is market intervention for red gram,” he said.

There were reports that traders had formed syndicates in some places and were forcing farmers to sell crops, especially red gram, at less than the MSP because of the glut. This led to protests.

Marketing minister T. Harish Rao immediately stepped in, sought Central government help and opened purchase centres.

— DC Thousands of youths gathered at the Sanjeevaiah Park for ‘Youth for Nation’, an initiative of the Samskruti Foundation, in Hyderabad on Monday.