Warangal farmers urge for biotechnology in cotton cultivation to increase production

Majority of farmers in Telangana state are engaged in cotton cultivation. In Warangal district, about 65 to 70 per cent of farmers cultivate cotton as main crop. Farmers in the Warangal district have urged the state government to help in making modern biotechnology based advancements in cotton cultivation available to cotton growers in Warangal as well as those in other districts of the state.

The Rythu Sangham leaders have urged the government to set up a cotton research centre and a textile unit in Warangal district for the benefit of farmers and to create employment opportunities.

In recent times the input costs has gone up significantly. Moreover with the introduction of employment guarantee scheme has led to non-availability of agricultural labourers. That in turn has led to great increase in labour charges due to which farmers are unable to hire labourers when required.

Orugallu District Rythu Sangham President Gopu Somi Reddy who led the farmers’ rally said that in cotton crop, weed management has become a big challenge. As farmers were unable to control the weed in time it has been leading to about 30 to 50 percent fall in yield.

The weeds were also causing heavy financial loss by consuming water and costly fertilisers meant for main crop. Hence the state government should come up with plans to introduce biotechnology based weed control mechanism for the benefit of cotton farmers, he suggested.
Advancements in biotechnology based weed control had been taking place across the globe in cotton cultivation, but the technology was not available to the farmers. Therefore the government should intervene to help the cotton farmers by brining such technology at their doorsteps.

However, Somi Reddy, the president of Pratapa Rudra Mutually Aided Cooperative Credit and Marketing Federation Limited, sought hike in the minimum support price for cotton.

These measures will make agriculture a profitable profession and encourage the young generation to take up cotton farming.