Kharif sowing starts in Gujarat; cotton acreage seen up

With pre-monsoon showers lashing many parts of Gujarat, the farmers community have started sowing of Kharif crops in the state. As per the data available with the state agriculture department around 2.81 lakh hectares of land has so far been covered under sowing this Kharif season.

"Many parts of the state have witnessed rains in past couple of days and sowing is progressing well. Mainly cotton and groundnut are being sown at present" a senior government official said, adding, sowing of other Kharif crops will also take place as the monsoon progress in the state.

According to government figures, a total area of 85 to 86 lakh hectares was brought under Kharif crop cultivation in 2009.

Though market players did not hazard to provide estimate of Kharif crop acreage 2010 at this point of time, they said that the area under cotton crop is poised to get major boost on the back of handsome returns received by cotton farmers in 2009-10.

"The total cotton acreage in Gujarat stood at around 25.35 lakh hectares in last Kharif season, which is seen to be increasing to nearly 28 lakh hectares this year," said Arun Dalal, owner of Arun Dalal and Co, an Ahmedabad-based cotton trading firm.

Regions such as Bharuch, Vadodara, Kutch and Junagadh have seen beginning of cotton sowing. In the wake of cotton prices ruling firm all through the year, increased number of farmers are likely to opt for this crop leading to a surge in area under cotton in Gujarat, which is the largest cotton growing state in India.

It may be mentioned here that cotton prices have mainly ruled firm in 2009-10 season. At present. Shanker-6 cotton prices are hovering around Rs 29,500 per candy and still there is a good demand for the white gold.

However, groundnut acreage may go down this year following lower output of groundnut in Rabi season. With groundnut pricing remaining average in the fiscal 2009-10, many farmers are likely to chose cotton over groundnut.

Groundnut acreage in Kharif 2009 remained at 17.95 lakh hectares during kharif 2009 as compared to 17.52 lakh and 17.12 lakh hectares in 2008.