Maharashtra likely to witness drop in cotton production -Shubhangi Khapre

-The Indian Express

The govt believes the shortfall of cotton coupled with greater overall demand in the market will ensure higher returns to the farmers

Mumbai: Cotton production in Maharashtra is likely to fall by 10 to 15 per cent this year, the agriculture ministry has said. Farmers postponed the sowing of cotton because of a delayed monsoon, which can lead to a drop in output. The cotton-growing farmers in Marathwada and Vidarbha switched partly to soya bean, tur and other cereals.

However, the government believes the shortfall of cotton coupled with greater overall demand in the market will ensure higher returns to the farmers. In the open market, the price of cotton would be above Rs 5,500, against the minimum support price of Rs 4,500 per quintal.

Maharashtra accounts for almost 25 to 30 per cent of the cotton grown in the country.

Minister of Agriculture Pandurang Phundkar said, “In the traditional cotton-growing belt of Vidarbha and Marathwada, farmers were forced to turn to alternatives such as soya bean because the sowing process was delayed.”

The monsoon had arrived late in some parts of the state, which is unfriendly for the cotton crop. Phundkar said that overall sowing of crops this kharif season had been almost 95 per cent, and the production of food grains, pulses and oil seeds would increase by at least 30 to 35 per cent.

However, notwithstanding the good monsoon, the long gap in the second and third spells of rain after the sowing has set the agriculture sector worried. Farmers are eagerly waiting for rain in the in drought-hit districts of Latur, Beed, Osmanabad, Amravati, Akola and Buldhana to reap a good harvest.

“To ensure maximum harvest, rain at regular intervals post sowing is always essential,” Phundkar said.

The India Meteorological Department has indicated that low pressure is building up in Bay of Bengal, reviving hopes of good rain across the state in the next four days.