The Hindu Business Line : Floods damage cotton, oilseeds crops

Survey results
About six per cent of the cotton crop has been affected. The production losses are about 13,67,130 tonnes.
Almost one-fourth of the total crop losses is from oilseeds. Total losses are about 93,24,720 tonnes.
About five per cent of the groundnut crop has also been affected; the loss of production is 9,88,630 tonnes.

A VIEW of a cotton field

Mumbai , Aug. 22

The floods in the last two months have affected about six per cent of the farmland in Maharashtra.

The State Agriculture Department in its preliminary survey has estimated losses to the tune of Rs 406 crore. And the losses are bound to increase once field-level surveys are completed by the month-end, a source in the Maharashtra Government told Business Line.

Of the total 1,37,51,100 hectares of farmland, about 7,99,990 hectares (six per cent) are affected and 21,16,84,570 tonnes of grains, cereals, oilseeds, fruits and other farm produce have been destroyed. Since the field-level survey is currently underway, the quantum of compensation is yet to be decided, the source added.

About six per cent of the cotton crop has been affected. The total area under cotton plantation is 30,81,200 hectares, of which the affected area is 1,78,710 hectares. The production losses are about 13,67,130 tonnes.

In the Vidarbha region, over 90,000 hectares of cotton crop have been affected. It is a double blow for the cotton farming community, which is still reeling from low rates for their produce and spate of farmer suicides. Since June 2005, 760 farmers have committed suicides in Vidarbha region alone.

Major cotton producing districts such as Yavatmal, Amravati, Akola, Nagpur and Chandrapur have been severely hit by the floods. Most of the devastation has taken place in the 10-km vicinity of the Wainganga River, which runs through the region.

Mr Suresh Kotak, former President, East India Cotton Association, is more optimistic about the situation. "In spite of losses, cotton production would be able to maintain last year's levels as the area cultivated area under cotton is higher in the current year. Plus the BT cotton variety is also water resistant," Mr Kotak said.

Oilseeds crop have taken a major hit with losses of about Rs 100 crore. Almost one-fourth of the total crop losses is from this segment. Total area under cultivation of oilseeds this season is 29,43,200 hectares and about 17,31,32 hectares have been affected. Total losses are about 93,24,720 tonnes. About five per cent of the groundnut crop has also been affected; the loss of production is 9,88,630 tonnes.

More Stories on : Natural Calamities | Maharashtra | Cultivation | Cotton | Oilseeds & Edible Oil

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Floods damage cotton, oilseeds crops