Cotton crop hit as fields dry up

Our Correspondent

Abohar, August 20

Some farmers of Dharampura village, 11 km from here, have started uprooting cotton plants that did not bear flowers.

Farmers Rajinder Kumar, Dharamvir, Rameshwer and Hari Ram said ‘narma’ cotton plants had been damaged as the irrigation authorities could not make adequate canal water available to the villages which were fed by the Daulatpura minor and those located at the tail-end of the canal system in the subdivision.

Drought-like conditions were primarily responsible for the losses suffered by farmers, said Sahib Ram, another farmer. Sources in the Irrigation Department said funds were not released for the reconstruction of sub-canals for the past few years, adding that cleaning was also delayed due to late allocation of funds. This affected water supply to some of the villages.

“When the cotton crop needed water instantly, the rotation system was enforced, citing a fall in the water level in dams. Many farmers missed their turn to irrigate fields due to this system. They have suffered due to repeated closure of sub-canals from April, when experts had advised to sow cotton,” said Devi Lal.

The affected farmers have requested the state government order a special girdawari to sanction compensation.