Discuss the story of a cotton farmer in Kurnool

Cotton is grown on a tiny area of land by Swapna, a local farmer in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Swapna is busy plucking cotton since the cotton plant’s flower buds are ripe and some have already burst. It takes a few days to harvest cotton since the cotton-containing bolls do not open all at once.

After it has been gathered, avoid selling the cotton in the Kurnool cotton market. Taking the crop to the neighborhood merchant is Swapna and her husband. Swapna had borrowed 2,500 at a very high-interest rate from the dealer at the start of the cropping season in order to purchase seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides for cultivation. At that moment, the local shopkeeper forced Swapna to accept a different need. She made a commitment to him to sell him all of her cottons. 

At the yard of the shopkeeper, the cotton bundles are weighed by two of his employees. The cotton sells for 6,000 at a price of 1,500 per quintal. The merchant gives Swapna 3,000 after deducting 3,000 for loan repayment and interest.

Swapna doesn’t continue her argument even though she is aware that cotton will sell for at least 1,800 a quintal. The merchant is a strong guy in the community, and the farmers are forced to rely on him for loans not only for farming but also to cover other expenses like medical bills and children’s tuition. Additionally, there are periods of the year when farmers have no job or revenue, making borrowing money their sole option for surviving. The money Swapna makes by growing cotton slightly exceeds what she would have made working as a wage laborer.

Sample Questions

Question 1: Who is Swapna and what does she cultivate?

Answer:

Cotton is grown on a tiny area of land by Swapna, a local farmer in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh. Swapna is busy plucking cotton since the cotton plant’s flower buds are ripe and some have already burst. It takes a few days to harvest cotton since the cotton-containing bolls do not open all at once.

Question 2: How are prices calculated per quintal at the yard of the shopkeeper?

Answer:

At the yard of the shopkeeper, the cotton bundles are weighed by two of his employees. The cotton sells for 6,000 at a price of 1,500 per quintal. The merchant gives Swapna 3,000 after deducting 3,000 for loan repayment and interest.

Question 3: Why Swapna doesn’t want to argue with the dealer in that community?

Answer:

Swapna doesn’t continue her argument even though she is aware that cotton will sell for at least 1,800 a quintal. The merchant is a strong guy in the community, and the farmers are forced to rely on him for loans not only for farming but also to cover other expenses like medical bills and children’s tuition. Additionally, there are periods of the year when farmers have no job or revenue, making borrowing money their sole option for surviving.