Delayed rain set to push cotton acreage in state

According to Aanad Popat,secretary,Saurashtra-Kutch Ginners Association,initial trend shows that cotton acreage might increase by 10 per cent this season.

Last year,cotton acreage in the state was around 18 lakh hectares. This mainly includes eight districts of the Saurashtra-Kutch region and parts of north Gujarat.

This season,the cotton yield has nearly touched the mark of one crore bales.

Cotton yield is set to increase further as ginners maintain that compared to groundnut,cotton is a better cash crop.

Insufficient rainfall has also forced farmers to opt for cotton. “Generally,monsoon reaches Gujarat by June 15. After a brief initial spell,this time rains have been scattered. Many parts of Saurashtra and Kutch are yet to receive their first rainfall,” said Praful Senjalia,president of the Bharatiya Kisan Sangh.

He added that when rains are erratic,cotton is better than groundnut. “Also,cotton has always given better returns,” he said.

Ginners,meanwhile,are hopeful of a better yield in the wake of introduction of excise duty and licence policy from this year.

“The cotton industry has undoubtedly faced huge losses due to the imposition of excise duty and licence system,as it resulted in backlog when cotton prices were soaring,” Popat said.

“The Centre has yet not come out with clear rules and regulation for licence. But that does not seem to deter cotton cultivators in Gujarat. In fact,it is expected to grow further this year,” he added.