SANGAREDDY (Andhra Pradesh): With increasing costs in the paddy and sugarcane cultivation some of the farmers are thinking to shift to soyabean cultivation. However, they were not in hurry and trying to experiment in limited space available in the farm than going for mass shift.
According to sources, the cultivation costs of paddy and sugar cane have abnormally increased forcing the farmers to think for alternatives while continuing cultivation.
Paddy cultivation has been costing about Rs. 17,000 per acre which includes labour cost, weed removal, seed and fertilizers. On the other hand the paddy selling price stands at Rs. 1,300 per quintal.
Coming to sugar cane, farmers are being forced to spend about Rs. 25,000 per acre. In addition, getting labour to work, increased cutting and transport charges have been adversely affecting the farmers. Even wild boars destroying the crop have also become a serious problem for the farmers.
In this back drop, some of the farmers are thinking about shifting to soyabean. More particularly in areas like Gajwel, Narsapur and Kowdipally farmers are showing interest and the agriculture department has already dumped about 160 quintals of soyabean seed at Gajwel, followed by 150 quintals at Kowdipally and 50 quintals at Narsapur.
According to estimates, the soyabean cultivation would cost about Rs. 8,000 per acre only as against the high cost of cultivation in sugar cane and paddy.
The administration has put a requirement of 13,750 quintals of soya been seed for the present Khariff season for the higher officials and green signal was given for 13,000 quintals allotment. Though initially there was huge rush for soya been seed, the situation came to normal now and the officers were stating that required quantity of seed was kept ready.
"Earlier, soyabean cultivation was limited to Zaheerabad like areas. Now it has been spreading to new areas. Farmers are thinking about reducing the cost of cultivation and getting profits," said an officer in the agriculture department adding that in about 20,000 farmers may cultivate soyabean this year in about 5,000 acres.