Be it due to the less than moderate and erratic rainfall or the rise in price, this kharif season might result in the biggest cotton produce in recent years.
According to figures collated by the agriculture department, this season cotton has been planted on about 31 per cent of the total cropped area, or on more than 21 lakh hectares, when compared to 16 lakh hectares for paddy.
The share of land on which cotton was grown increased by a whopping 3.42 lakh hectares this season.
Last kharif season, cotton occupied about 25 per cent of the total cropped area and was planted on 3 lakh hectares less than paddy. This is the first time since the kharif season of 2009 that cotton cultivation has outstripped paddy.
Explaining this, additional director of agriculture Balaram Naik said, “The delayed rains this season has made farmers opt for cotton, which is also fetching good prices at Rs 3,000 to Rs 3,500 per quintal.”
He said the increased cotton cultivation at the cost of paddy in some districts will not have any adverse effect. “Though paddy cultivation is in deficit, it can be easily compensated in the Rabi season,” Mr Naik pointed out.