Waterlogging, caused by the recent rainfall, has severely damaged cotton crop in the region, leaving farmers high and dry.
The Hisar-Sirsa-Fatehabad-Bhiwani region is known as the ‘cotton belt’ of the state. However, repeated crop failures in recent years due to pest attacks — including those by whitefly and pink bollworm — have dealt a major blow to farmers, leading to a gradual decline in the cotton-growing area. As a result, the area under paddy cultivation has been increasing.
This season saw negligible pest attacks on cotton. Yet, the misfortune of farmers continues.
Waterlogging in several parts of these districts has caused the wilting of cotton plants due to prolonged inundation — resulting in crop failure. According to Agriculture Department data, in Hisar alone, about 40,000 acres of cotton has been damaged due to flooding after the rains, up to August 2.
Additional rainfall and overflowing drains have worsened the situation, causing more crop losses. The department’s report states that the Agroha, Adampur, Hisar-1, and Bass blocks have suffered the most damage.
In Bhiwani district, 38,000-acre cotton is under threat due to rainwater inundation. Out of the district’s total cotton area of 1,13,265 acres, 5,400 acres has already suffered 75-100 per cent damage, while the rest of the inundated area is also said to have suffered major losses. Agriculture experts say cotton cannot survive more than two days of waterlogging, making it unlikely for the flooded crop to recover.
Deputy Director (Agriculture), Hisar, Dr Rajbir Singh said the Irrigation Department was working overtime to drain out standing water from the fields.
Cotton farmers facing crop failure could opt for late paddy sowing in their fields, he added.
Sirsa district has incurred comparatively lesser damage to the crop, as most damage has been done in Nathusari Chopta region — where 2,600 acres of crop has been damaged.
The district has total cotton area of 1,47,000 hectares. In Fatehabad district, which has over 80,000 acres of area under cotton, about 2,500 acres has suffered losses due to inundation.
Vinod Kumar, a farmer from Shakkar Mandori village in Sirsa district, said he had planted cotton on eight of the ten acres of farmland he owns.
Unfortunately, due to heavy rain and waterlogging, his entire cotton crop has been destroyed.
He said he had spent around Rs 10,000-15,000 per acre on the crop (not counting the labour done by his family).
Now, he has attempted to grow paddy on 4 acres; however, water has been standing in his fields for many days, turning them into swamps.
As a result, his tractor and rotavator got stuck in the mud while trying to sow paddy.
The tractor was pulled out — albeit with great difficulty — but the rotavator is still stuck in the field.
“I don’t know what will happen next. I’ve used up all my savings,” he said, urging the government to provide compensation for his losses.
