Farmers in Indian state of Andhra Pradesh have started opting for cotton cultivation over other farming after the Indian government hiked Minimum Support Price (MSP) of cotton from Rs 4,300 to Rs 5,100 per quintal recently.
Cotton cultivation area in the state is expected to go up from 20 to 25 per cent during this season post hike in MSP. Additionally, release of Pattiseema water to Krishna Western Delta region in Guntur also encouraged farmers to go for cotton cultivation.
Last year cotton was cultivated in 12.5 lakh acres in the state. Farmers still have another 45-day time to start cotton cultivation. Fall in the price of pulses has also encouraged farmers to take up cotton cultivation in Andhra Pradesh.
Despite all favourable situations for cotton cultivation, farmers in the state have to fight with pink bollworm attack which has been a major reason of concern for them. However, district administration is gearing up to fight with this menace. Hundreds of acres is under the grip of pink bollworm pestilence at this juncture.
Not only this year, pink bollworm attack took a major toll on cotton crops in the country in the past as well. BT Cotton is also vulnerable to this pest.
Last year, cotton farmers in Telangana were hit by pink bollworm attack on their farms in August during the flowering stage.
The pink bollworm which eats away the cotton fibre and the bolls, causes huge economic loss to the farmer.
