Unseasoned rain destroys Orissa’s cotton crop

RAYAGADA - An untimely heavy downpour have destroyed cotton crop in Orissa’s Rayagada District.

Farmers lamented that the rain has deteriorated cotton flower and its seeds.

Farmers said they would commit suicide if they would not get any aid from the Government.

Bijoy Kumar Sen, a cotton specialist, said farmers are hoping to get remunerative price for the crop from the Government.

“Due to the unseasoned cyclonic rain the crop has been affected. Actually 25 percent crop has been damaged due to this unseasoned rain and now farmers are suffering a lot due to such affected crop. Only two pickings are already been covered, rest two pickings will be met. So, there will be a chance of remunerative price,” said Sen.

The soil of the region is very suitable for the cultivation of cotton and it is called white gold region.

Devastated rain has affected 2120 villages of the region and their farmers.

“Due to untimely rain cotton crop has been damaged severely. Poor tribals do cotton farming in this area. We farmers have lost our entire crop,” said Shankar Bidika, a cotton farmer.

Approximately 13,291 hectare of cotton has been affected. By Sarada Lahangir (ANI)