Indian cotton acreage likely to increase despite setbacks in some pockets

The country’s area under cotton has witnessed an uptick despite setbacks in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where a dry spell threatens to hit the first sowing. The cotton acreage is expected to increase by 7 per cent over 113.60. lakh hectares (lh) last year. As of June 20, the area under cotton was 31.25 lh. Though the area is trailing in States such as Telangana, the trade expects the acreage to improve in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh following an increase in minimum support price (MSP) for the fibre crop. In Karnataka, the area was up by about 40 per cent till June 20 at 3.35 lh compared with 2.40 lh a year ago A long dry spell after early rains in the last week of May has dampened the hopes of cotton farmers in Telangana. Two-thirds of 33 districts in the State reported deficit rainfall. According to the India Meteorological Department, the State has received 23 per cent deficient rain during the current monsoon. With the prospects of losing the first sowing looming large, the State government is taking measures to make seeds available.