With a likely fall in cotton prices globally this year, the Telangana government has asked farmers to go for alternative crops in the ensuing kharif season and reduce the cotton area.

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao will take up this issue at the District Collectors’ conference, scheduled to be held here on April 29.

“Cotton prices have been falling in international markets. But farmers are continuing to grow the crop. The CM will discuss this issue in detail and ask the Collectors to advise farmers to look at alternatives,” a State government official has said.

Telangana is among the top cotton growing States in the country. But farmers have been under tremendous financial pressure in the last three to four years, with monsoon and cottonseed having failed them. The crop was completely damaged in the last two seasons, triggering a spate of suicides.

This year, they faced another challenge. Pink bollworm developed resistance to the Boggard II technology, leaving the crop vulnerable.

“Farmers are investing heavily but not getting good returns. In fact, they are losing heavily. Moreover, India has signed a pact at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) meet held in Nairobi on cutting concessions on duties on cotton exports,” the official said.

“The government has decided to protect farmers from market vagaries. We would like to tell them what is happening globally,” the official added. The Chief Minister has asked Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy to direct his Department to prepare an action plan in this regard.

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