MOTHER NATURE Mother Nature September 2017 | Page 9

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Mother Nature Aug /Sep 2017
scale shift towards cotton Cotton cultivation
accounts for 17% of the cultivated area in
Telengana and Andhra Pradesh. Lack of access
to institutional credit and low crop insurance add
to farmers’ woes. The dry areas in both these
states are known. Then, why do farmers not
change strategy? The farmers are working in a
commercial environment where money matters.
A farmer needs to make money," says the
scientist. For a small and marginal farmer,
money does not come from growing sorghum
or tur. Cotton, maize and other cash crops bring
in money. Small and marginal farmers, who form
about 83 per cent of cultivators, suffer the most.
Agricultural scientists suggest growing sorghum
and ragi in these parts. Unfortunately, they do
not command a price like cotton or maize. The
Rythu Swaraj Vedika, an umbrella organisation
of farmers' groups and non-governmental
organisations, observes suicides mostly take
place from September to November, as this is
the time a farmer realises his kharif crop is lost
and he will not be able to repay loans. He is left
with no investment for rabi production.
Ramanjeyulu estimates the loss this year in-
curred by a farmer due to drought at Rs 40,000-
60,000.
The cost of cultivation is high in both states and
After bifurcation,
Telangana has become
the third largest
cotton producer,
with 1.6 million
hectares
under
cultivation.
Andhra Pradesh is
at fifth position, with
736,000 hectares.
Cotton is cultivated in about 2.4
million hectares in Andhra
Pradesh and Telangana put
together. This accounts for 17 per
cent of the cultivated area in both
the states. Undivided Andhra
Pradesh was the third largest
cotton producing state in India.
the minimum support prices announced by the
Centre are lower than the costs incurred. This year,
the cost estimation of paddy per quintal is Rs 2,400
in Andhra Pradesh and Rs 2,100 in Telangana. The
minimum support price announced is Rs 1,400 a
quintal.
Lack of access to institutional credit and low crop
insurance add to farmers' woes. Besides, in
anticipation of loan waivers, a large number of
farmers did not repay loans last year, and banks have
refused loans this year.
The Telangana government has enhanced relief from
Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh while Andhra Pradesh has
enhanced this from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. But,
these one-time reactive measures have little impact.
"We need more involvement of farmers in the
development of technology. Research institutes need
to work closely with the community, so that tech-
nologies are customised and made available at the
local level," says the scientist.
Scientists stress the need for a good policy initiative
where farmers are assured of prices. Organising
farmers into cooperatives to raise their bargaining
power would help.
As a long-term solution, agriculture scientists say
the government should encourage farmers to plant
crops suited for these locations. The farmers will not
go for cotton and maize if the government is able to
give them a suitable price for these crops. The
responsibility lies largely with the government to
create a demand for these crops.