The largest cotton-producing states, such as Maharashtra and Gujarat, also reported a decline in acreage. North India’s Rajasthan and Punjab are the most affected states regarding the reduction in cotton sowing areas. These areas faced a severe impact from the Pink Bollworm during the last season, which discouraged farmers from planting cotton.

India’s cotton sowing begins in June and continues until August or mid-September. Therefore, cotton sowing is almost completed, and the deficiency in sowing area is unlikely to recover. More than 90 per cent of cotton sowing has been completed. Around a 9 per cent decrease was noted in the state-wise detailed weekly report of cotton sowing released by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The country’s average cotton sowing area was 122.951 lakh hectares in the corresponding week last year. The acreage in Punjab decreased to just 1 lakh hectares from 2.140 lakh hectares last year. In Rajasthan, the area was reduced from 7.908 lakh hectares to 5.132 lakh hectares as of the latest week.

According to the report, the cotton area in Maharashtra was noted at 40.785 lakh hectares (last year, 41.866 lakh hectares), Madhya Pradesh at 6.149 lakh hectares (last year, 6.500 lakh hectares), Karnataka at 6.690 lakh hectares (last year, 6.557 lakh hectares), Haryana at 6.650 lakh hectares (last year, 6.584 lakh hectares), Gujarat at 23.580 lakh hectares (last year, 26.790 lakh hectares), Telangana at 17.090 lakh hectares (last year, 18.018 lakh hectares), and Andhra Pradesh at 3.500 lakh hectares (last year, 3.690 lakh hectares).

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)