Area under cotton cultivation likely to decrease in northern states and Gujarat

08-Jul-2024 06:42 PM

New Delhi. In 10 states of the country- Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, BT cotton as well as traditional categories of cotton are cultivated in a limited area.

Due to the relatively less attractive price of cotton and the possibility of heavy damage to the crop due to the attack of insects and diseases, there is a possibility of a decrease in the area under cotton cultivation in states like Gujarat, Punjab,

Haryana and Rajasthan this time. Early sowing of cotton (Narma) is done in northern states, while in Gujarat its cultivation starts in June along with other states. It is worth mentioning that Gujarat is the most prominent producer of cotton in the country,

while its area under cotton cultivation is estimated to decrease by up to 15 percent there. Similarly, its area under cotton cultivation is expected to decrease by 40 to 60 percent in northern states. Sowing has almost ended there. However,

it is difficult to say at the moment whether the cotton production area at the national level will decline or increase compared to last year despite the reduced sowing in these four states because there are indications of an increase in the area in two top producing states of South India -

Telangana and Karnataka. In Maharashtra, the area may either remain stable or increase slightly. The sowing process is still going on.