Low-quality cotton hits AP mart

The cotton market in Andhra Pradesh has been caught in a paradox of low acreage and an excess fresh crop of lower quality.

Consequently, the prices have dropped to Rs 1,800-1,850 a quintal in coastal Andhra Pradesh and to Rs 1,900-2,000 a quintal in the Telangana markets.

The poor quality of the crop may force spinning mills to import cotton and mix it with the desi variety for manufacturing yarn. Besides, the exports are likely to receive a setback.

While the last year's crop output in the state was around 12 lakh bales (a bale is equal to 180 kg), market sources estimate this year's crop at around 14 lakh bales.

Of the fresh crop, 11.5 lakh cotton bales "� comprising 4.5 lakh bales from Guntur, 6 lakh bales from Telangana and 1 lakh bales from East Godavari and Kurnool (Rayalaseema) districts "� have already hit the market.

The acreage in Guntur district this year is 1,31,078 hectare as against 1,52,978 hectare in the previous year.

Moreover, the long staple cotton (31 mm, 32 mm, 33 mm), traders' first choice and pride of Andhra Pradesh, is in short supply. Most of the crop arriving in the market, particularly in Guntur and other coastal areas of the state, is the short staple variety (28 mm, 29 mm, 30 mm).

Farmers of Telangana have reaped more long staple cotton than their counterparts in the coastal region. As against 4 lakh bales of long staple cotton harvested in Guntur district last year, farmers have so far reaped only 50,000 bales this year. Market values long staple cotton more than short staple cotton.

Factors such as strength, equivalent fibres, micronaire-spinning fibre (3-4) and moisture (8-9 per cent) should remain constant for high quality of the crop. These factors are present in extremities in the cotton harvest in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa, leading to its low quality.

Farmers blamed Bt cotton hybrid seeds for the low crop quality. They added that though the crop had resisted pests, it lacked quality and the seeds sold fell short of quality norms.