AHMEDABAD: Gujarat’s cotton acreage is likely to increase 10% this kharif season with farmers getting high prices for the natural fibre last year. Currently, the area under cotton cultivation in the state has increased to 16.50 lakh hectares as on July 5, compared to 15.72 lakh hectares during the same period last year. This was revealed in the latest data compiled by the state agriculture department.
“At present, the area under cotton cultivation has increased by about 7% when compared with the same period last year,” said Arvind Pan, president, Saurashtra Cotton Ginners Association (SCGA). Pan added: “This is due to high prices of cotton last year.”
Pan said groundnut sowing has been delayed due to stalled monsoon. “This may prompt some groundnut farmers to turn to cotton,” he said. “If the monsoon resumes now, there will be another 3% increase in the cotton acreage. Overall, the area under cotton cultivation is expected to surge 10% this year.”
The area under cotton cultivation in Gujarat had declined 15% to 23 lakh hectares in 2020 from 27 lakh hectares in 2019. The average cotton acreage of the past three years is 25.53 lakh hectares.
Strong demand from domestic and international markets had pushed up cotton prices to a decadal high of Rs 52,000 per candy (one candy is equivalent to 356kg) by the end of the cotton season for 2020-21.
“The prices of high-quality Shankar-6 cotton are currently being quoted at Rs 51,500-52,000 per candy,” said a cotton trader. “The prices are expected to remain firm, which is going to lure farmers to cotton crop.”
According to the Cotton Association of India (CAI), despite a lower acreage last year, Gujarat’s cotton output is estimated to rise to about 97 lakh bales in the 2020-21 season. One bale is equivalent to 170kg. In the previous season, the output was 95 lakh bales.
