Untimely rainfall in Punjab affects cotton arrival in mandis

Untimely rainfall in Punjab earlier this month has affected cotton arrivals in various mandis of the state. According to the data compiled by Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board (PSAMB), as on September 29, the arrival was 27 per cent less than the corresponding period last year.

Also, the farmers are getting lower prices compared to last year due to poor quality of the fibre.

An agriculture official said intermittent rains in the first week of September this year - especially on September 2-4 - had damaged the cotton crop in Punjab. The rains would also delay the picking operations, resulting in the delay of arrival of cotton in markets.

According to Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board data, as on September 29, the total arrival was 101,000 quintals, or 20,307 bales, of raw cotton in various mandis of the state compared to 139,000 quintals, or 27,778 bales, in the corresponding period last year. According to agricultural officers, standing crop on nearly 60,000-70,000 hectares in the cotton belt of Mansa, Fazilka, Muktsar and Bathinda, among other districts, had been damaged due to the untimely rainfall.

"The intermittent rainfall in Punjab earlier this month has affected the arrival and may affect the productivity also. The crop in the cotton areas comprising Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa, Ferozepur, Moga, Faridkot, Sangrur and Barnala districts in Punjab has been badly affected. The rains have badly affected crop maturity and quality. As a result, farmers are getting lower prices as compared to the previous year," said an agriculture department official.

According to the data, farmers are getting about Rs 3,675-Rs 4,217 a quintal (on an average), which is about Rs 500-Rs 900 a quintal less than the previous season.

In crop year 2013-14, raw cotton in Punjab was sold in the range of Rs 4,650-Rs 4,725 a quintal (on an average).

The total cotton area in Punjab was around 500,000 hectares in the current season against the targeted 520,000 hectares, which is more or less the same compared to last year. The state is expecting a total production of about 2-2.1 million bales in the current season.

On being asked the reasons, an agriculture department official said, "The deficient rainfall in the north has impacted major kharif crops including cotton, paddy and maize in Punjab."

Sources said 95 per cent of the area would be under Bt cotton.