Nearly 60 farmers of Somalapura village near Kampli in Hospet taluk of Bellary districts are a worried lot as Hybrid Cotton seeds purchased from Karnataka State Seeds Corporation has failed to yield flowers or fruits even after three months.
   Farmers had purchased NHH-44 hybrid cotton seeds recommended by KSSC from Raitha Samparka Kendra. The seeds were sown on 120 acres in the village during the first week of February. Although, the sapling had grown to good height, so far there is no sign of flower or fruit. As per suggestions of agriculture assistants they used fertiliser and sprayed pesticide. In spite of this, the cotton crop had failed miserably. Farmers were blaming their luck.
   They had invested Rs 15,000 per acre by borrowing loan from banks and private money lenders to raise the crop and with the crop failing they are worried about future.
   The farmers have been purchasing hybrid cotton seeds from Raitha Samparka Kendras for the last so many years. But for the first time they burnt their fingers due to failure of the crop. They do not know whether it was due to changed climatic condition or substandard quantity of seeds.
   They had earned Rs 28,000 to Rs 30,000 through sale of hybrid cotton with the yield of 12 quintals per acre. But failure of cotton crop this year would definitely put them in a debt trap, they noted.
   They have urged agriculture scientists, agriculture officers to visit the fied to ascertain reasons for the crop failure though they had purchased the seeds recommended by the KSSC. Besides, government should reimburse money to them in the form of compensation.
   Farmers have threatened to launch an agitation in case the government failed to meet their demands immediately. A similar kind of incidents had been reported from Suggenhalli, Chikkajayiganur, Devalapur and Metri village.
   On receipt of information, Agriculture Assistant Imam Basha visited the spot and held meeting with cotton growers. He had assured of submitting a detailed report to higher-ups.