Cotton sowing may rise despite export ban .

Mr Rajeshbhai Karsanbhai Ajani, a farmer who owns 50 acres in Gujarat's Rajkot district, sowed groundnut on 40 acres and cotton on 10 acres last year. This year, he plans to double the acreage under cotton as groundnut did not give the desired yield last year.

Same is the case with Mr Tarshibhai Manjibhai Bhanderi, of Itara in Gujarat's Dhrol district. He owns a total of 12 acres. Last year he cultivated groundnut on over three acres and cotton on eight acres. This year, he plans to sow nine acres of cotton and two acres of groundnut as the former is expected to give better prices. Part of the groundnut crop he sowed last year, did not give a good yield also due to the lack of sufficient water and knowledge.

Shift in preference

Cotton is the kharif king in Gujarat as farmers in the largest groundnut producing State are shifting towards cotton, thanks to higher prices and good yield.

Sowing activity in the North is in full swing and there is a bit of delay in Saurashtra – the groundnut bowl of the country – because of rains.

According to Mr Uka Bhai, President, Saurashtra Oil Mills Association,: “Last year, in seven districts of Saurashtra, 15 lakh hectares of groundnut was sown. This year, farmers are planning to sow 20 per cent less or 12 lakh hectares of groundnut as they failed to get good prices for groundnut last year.

“They will instead sow cotton, which is expected to give good prices. The seven districts are Rajkot, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Kutch and Bhuj.”

Cropping pattern

Farmers seem to be changing the cropping pattern as they are shifting to cash and remunerative crops such as cumin, cotton and amaranth. The Gujarat Government has projected an acreage of 21.97 lakh hectares and 97.37 lakh bales of cotton for the kharif season this year.

Mr D.K. Nair, Secretary-General of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry, says: “Acreage reached a record level of 101 lakh hectares in 2009-10 season. Given the high prices that farmers got this season (ending September), acreage is likely to increase further, at least to 105 lakh hectares. The yield declined this season, primarily because of delayed monsoon. For 2010-11 season, present indications are that the monsoon will remain at least normal. Thus, the yield can also be expected to increase compared to 2009-10 season, perhaps to the level of 2008-09.”

Mr Nair pegs the total production in 2010-11 at around 320-325 lakh bales.

Situation in South

Down South, 40 per cent of sowing has been completed. “Farmers are enthused as they got good prices for kapas – even higher than MSP. An interesting thing is that the area under ELS cotton has shrunk due to the long gestation period and farmers are showing more interest towards Bunny variety,” says Mr K.N. Viswanathan, Secretary of the Coimbatore-based South India Cotton Association.

But will the suspension of exports throw a spoke in the cotton cultivation? Mr Vishwanathan rules out such an idea. “Lots of export contracts are pending. Many contracts are yet to be registered and shipped. Imposing a ban doesn't mean that we have lost. Indian cotton is the cheapest one available in the market as prices have gone up in other countries such as China on India's ban.”

Source : Business Line