Good rainfall in the last week of August has helped cotton plant growth in major growing states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka.
As per reports, in some states, like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, farmers have shifted from paddy and soya cultivation to cotton farming due to good returns. Overall acreage may jump by 12-14% of last season as per estimates by seed suppliers, said Indian Cotton Federation on Wednesday.
Going by the current climactic conditions, cotton production may cross the 400 lakh bales mark in the current season. The price is ruling steady and the National Commodity and Derivatives Exchange will introduce long staple cotton futures, the federation said.
In Punjab, there has been a drop in cotton cultivation by 10% while in Rajasthan there has been an increase of 40% in cotton sowing by farmers.
The prices for good quality J-34 r/g was R4,335/spot per maund while in Haryana it was priced at R4,310/spot per maund.
In Rajasthan, it was quoted at R4,290/spot per maund.
There has been good and consistent rainfall in most of the cotton growing belts of Gujarat and has led to reduction in prices for good stock cotton at around R40,500/spot per candy and V-797 r/g was priced at R30,000/spot per candy.
In Madhya Pradesh, the monsoon has been bountiful and will benefit the farmers. The price for good quality Bunny of 29 mm is priced at R41,500/spot per candy.
The present spell of rain in the last one week has changed the picture of agriculture in Andhra Pradesh as the dams have started overflowing and many farmers have shifted from soya cultivation to cotton in the current situation.
According to the federation, there has been consistent rainfall in the last one week and has given a new lease of life to cotton plants surrounding Raichur area in Karnataka. New crop Dch-32 and Bunny are already arriving in small pockets of northern Karnataka in Gokak and southern Karnataka in Bellary.
