Ahmedabad: Gujarat cotton area is likely to increase by 10% of this Kharif season with farmers getting high prices for last year’s natural fibers.
At present, the area under cotton cultivation in the state has increased to 16.50 lakh hectares 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 around 7% compared to the same period last year,” said Arvind Pan, President, Saurashtra Cotton Ginners Association (SCGA).
PAN added: “This is because of the high price of cotton last year.” PAN said sowing peanuts had been postponed because the monsoon stopped.
“This might push some chaotic farmers to turn to cotton,” he said.
“If the monsoon continues now, there will be a 3% increase in the cotton area.
Overall, the area in cotton cultivation is expected to jump 10% this year.” The area under cotton cultivation in Gujarat decreased by 15% to 23 lakh hectares in 2020 from 2020 from 27 Lakh hectares in 2019.
The average cotton area of the last three years is 25.53 lakh hectares.
The strong demand from the domestic and international market has pushed the price of cotton to the highest decadal RS 52,000 per candy (one candy equivalent to 356kg) at the end of the cotton season for 2020-21.
“The price of high-quality Shankar-6 cotton is currently quoted at Rs 51,500-52,000 per candy,” said a cotton trader.
“Prices are expected to remain firm, which will attract farmers to cotton plants.” According to the Indian Cotton Association (CAI), even though there was a lower area last year, Gujarat cotton output was estimated to rise to around 97 lakh bales in the 2020-21 season.
One bale is equivalent to 170kg.
In the previous season, the output was 95 lakh bal.
Gujarat cotton area can grow 10%
