Monsoon delay not to hit cotton crop

Delay in monsoon is not going to impact cotton sowing in the country, provided the delay does not stretch any further.

Ruling out any significant impact of monsoon delay on cotton sowing, J N Singh, textile commissioner, said, "It's too early to say anything on the production estimates this year. But based on various indications, we can see a surge of 8-10 per cent in cotton output taking it to a total of around 300 lakh bales (1 bale = 170 kg)." In 2006-07, country had a total cotton output estimates of 270 lakh bales.

Experts said that as the farmers fetched high prices in the last crop year, they increased the acreage this year, thus increasing the possibilities of higher output.

According to the officials of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), the northern states have already seen a jump of 8-10 per cent in the acreage. Punjab and Rajasthan have seen a rise of 7-8 per cent and 12-15 per cent respectively in area under cotton cultivation.

"At present, average prices are quoted at Rs 18,800 a candy (356 kg), which is around Rs 1,200 lower than the peak prices of cotton. Prices have stabilised at these levels for almost a month. This will further prompt farmers to increase acreage this year," said the CCI official. According to K F Jhunjhunwala, president, East India Cotton Association, "Further delay in monsoon is definitely going to affect sowing but if weather becomes favourable, the loss can be compensated later on."

The exact output estimates will be made between August and September. In northern states "" including Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab, where good irrigation facilities are at place "" sowing is almost complete. As the rest of the cotton cultivating areas are mainly rain-fed, sowing will start once monsoon arrives.

"Acreage is going to rise but at the same time yield will also improve. The average yield last year was 500 kg a hectare, which is set to increase this year as farmers are inclined more towards BT cotton," said P D Patodia, deputy chairman, Confederation of Indian Textiles Industry (CITI). Contract farming in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra will also help in boosting output from the state.

According to the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB), the total area under cotton cultivation in the country in 2005-06 was 88.73 lakh hectares.