Rain may hit prospects of cotton output in Punjab

According the data collected from various mandis of the state, this year arrival of the crop is 10% less than the previous year

The inclement weather conditions especially rain in the month of September has hit cotton arrival in Punjab. Agriculture officials and farmers are of the view that this year arrival of the crop would be 10-15 per cent less than the the last year.

According the data collected from various mandis of the state, this year arrival of the crop is 10 per cent less than the previous year. As on October 31, the total arrival was 7.85 lakh quintals (1.57 lakh bales) while last year it was 8.70 lakh quintals (1.74 lakh bales).

The data clearly suggests that inclement weather conditions had hit prospects of bumper cotton output this season in the state. Analysts feel that unseasoned rainfall has affected the crop and also led to delay in arrival.

Cotton was sown over 5.30 lakh hectares in Punjab and the anticipated production for the 2013-14 was about 20 lakh bales (1 bale=170 kg). According to reports, 74,000 hectares under cotton was affected in Bathinda alone. Because of the rains, arrival of the fiber was delayed by 10-12 days in the state. Pointing out that consistent rains has caused accumulation of water in the fields, agriculture officials informed that in many places, cotton balls have got rotten as the plants remained submerged in water.

However, owing to high demand in domestic and international market and less arrival, farmers in the state are getting better price for their crop as compared to last year. The prices of cotton are on the upward spiral and are much above the MSP of Rs 4,000 per quintal (for long staple) due to less arrival of cotton in different mandis as compared to corresponding period last year. Also, the medium staple cotton is being traded at a price higher than the MSP of Rs 3,700 per quintal.