Photos: Pests ravage Maharashtra cotton crop, 41 lakh farmers await compensation

In December 2017, Maharastra's cotton crop was devastated by a pink bollworm attack, the worst since the state adopted BT (Bollgard cotton) or genetically modified (GM) seed technology in 2002. As seed companies refuse to comply with the state government's promised compensation, the farmers' crisis sets in deeper than ever before in the region.

Updated on: Feb 16, 2018 9:34 AM IST

News

Share via

• 
• 
• 
• 

Copy link

• 

1/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Feb 16, 2018 9:34 AM

Usha Pandey, 39, a farmer from Maharashtra’s Amravati district, inspects her damaged cotton plants. In December 2017, the state’s cotton crop was devastated by a pink bollworm attack, the worst since the state adopted BT (Bollgard cotton) or genetically modified (GM) seed technology in 2002. The pink bollworm, native to Asia has now been proven resistant to the BT gene in India. (Anshuman Poyrekar / HT Photo)

2/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Feb 16, 2018 9:34 AM

Over the past seven years, she has faced the vagaries of climate, fluctuating market prices, unending debt, while living with the sorrow of losing her 18-year-old daughter to illness. She is now among nearly 41 lakh farmers — 26.90 lakh from Marathwada and 14.16 lakh from Vidarbha — who cultivated cotton, and suffered more than 33% losses in this outbreak. (Anshuman Poyrekar / HT Photo)

3/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Feb 16, 2018 9:34 AM

The pest attack reduced Usha’s average produce to just 10 quintals, from the usual 30 quintals. After spending six months on nurturing the seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, labour costs and equipment rentals, she has been left with an annual income of Rs 35,000. The attack poses several challenges for both the distraught farmers as well as the ruling government. (Anshuman Poyrekar / HT Photo)

4/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Feb 16, 2018 9:34 AM

Usha is one of many farmers HT spoke to in Vidarbha and Marathwada who are staring at one of the biggest agrarian crisis in recent times. Worst hit are those involved in dry land farming. Most have failed to recover even the cultivation cost from the main cash crop. As farmers face an uphill task to get credit for the next kharif season, several families will have to make sacrifices until the tide turns. (Anshuman Poyrekar / HT Photo)

5/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Feb 16, 2018 9:34 AM

The Maharashtra government, in its winter session, promised compensation which included Rs16,000 per hectare from seed companies, Rs 8,000 per hectare from insurance companies and Rs 6,800 per hectare from the National Disaster Fund (NDF). Given that seed companies are unwilling to fork out damages as proposed by the state and want the technology provider to be held responsible, compensation is no easy task. (Anshuman Poyrekar / HT Photo)

6/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Feb 16, 2018 9:34 AM

Cattle graze in an infected cotton field in Yavatmal. “This pest attack is unprecedented and we are looking at a year of agrarian misery for the cotton farmers. This will lead to a spurt in farmer suicides and I will hold the government responsible unless it delivers on the promised compensation,’’ said Kishore Tiwari, chairman of the Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavlamban Mission. (Anshuman Poyrekar / HT Photo)

7/7

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Feb 16, 2018 9:34 AM

The agriculture department has sent messages to farmers, asking them to burn their standing cotton crop and harrow land to get rid of the pest completely. However, to take the farmers away from their cash crop is a challenging task as farm-allied activities and income from dairy development; goateries and aquaculture are yet to gain momentum in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. (Anshuman Poyrekar / HT Photo)