Rayagada is one of the few districts in Orissa where a considerable area of cultivable land is taken up for cotton cultivation. Over a period of time even tribal cultivators have taken to cotton cultivation. Gunupur sub division of Rayagada has the major share of cotton production, which makes it one of the richest RMCs( Regulated Marketing Committee) in the state.Nowadays even Rayagada sub division has seen increase in the number of farmers who have taken up cotton as a primary or secondary crop.
As a part of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), one Pratibha syntex was to supply cotton seeds to farmers in this district. Since last two months the district administration has been receiving complaints from farmers that the seed that they bought from Pratibha Syntex did not germinate and hence it resulted in loss for them. The district administration in its grievance cell has received atleast 3 such written complaints and even otherwise a number of cases have come to notice where such problem exists.Collector Rayagada has entrusted the task of inquiring in this matter of Sri. P.C Seth, PD DRDA, Rayagada.
Cotton farming is a capital intensive task and experiences from states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh has shown that any failure in this matter could lead to serious repercussion for the farmers. The reason for loss of crop ( or failure to flower) could be attributed to number of reasons, but in this case the district administration wants to be very sure about the quality of seeds and a proper inquiry is expected in this matter.
