Poor rains may affect cotton yield: experts

Cotton growers in Gujarat are praying for another spell of good rains over the next 10 days as they fear cotton yield could be affected. Deficient rains in the next fortnight could offset the projected gains of 4-6 per cent in cotton yield from Gujarat, industry experts said.

"The present condition of the crop is good, but more rains are now required. If it rains within a week or 10 days ,it would be very good, otherwise the yield will have an adverse impact," N C Patel, vice chancellor, Junagadh Agriculture University said.

"Cotton acreage in kharif has touched 25.51 lakh hectares mark in Gujarat. With 90 per cent of sowing in the state getting over and virtually no rainfall in the last fortnight ,the projected gain in yield this year could be offset if it does not rain," a Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) official said. Acreage under cotton increased by over 2.5 lakh hectares in the state this year compared to last year. The cotton yield was expected to go up by 4-6 per cent, he added.

According to the state agriculture department report, area under cotton crop stood at 25.51 lakh hectares as of August 10 2009, against 22.96 lakh hectares last year.