Constraint Analysis in Cotton (Gossypiumherbaceum L) Crop Cultivation in Karimnagar District of Telangana State, India

Abstract

For the last few years, cotton has been facing many constraints from sowing till harvesting. These constraints include natural, environmental, economic and marketing issues that cause severe impact on productivity and profitability of this crop. This study was conducted in Karimnagar district of Telangana to analyze the constraints in cotton cultivation and the adoption of production technologies. The Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), Jammikunta, has promoted improved agricultural technologies in the district through on-farm trials, frontline demonstrations, training programs, and exposure visits. A sample of 90 farmers was surveyed to assess the key challenges in cotton production. The major constraints reported were inadequate adoption of refuge crops, high incidence of sucking pests, suboptimal plant population, and severe weed infestation. Based on these findings, the study suggests strengthening awareness on the importance of refuge crops, conducting large-scale demonstrations on stem application methods for pest management, evaluating the effectiveness of post-emergence herbicides, and prioritizing mechanization through the use of cotton pickers. The study concludes with an emphasis on increasing farmers’ awareness about reducing input costs, ensuring timely technical guidance, creating awareness on refuge crop adoption, promoting stem application methods for sucking pest management, strengthening Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, and providing training on efficient fertilizer use. They also highlighted the importance of evaluating and refining cotton pickers to suit local conditions, thereby mitigating labour shortages. The results provide actionable insights for enhancing productivity and sustainability of cotton cultivation in the region.