The Punjab government’s efforts to encourage farmers to diversify their farming are poised to suffer a major setback as cotton production is predicted to fall to its lowest levels in years.
While the crop selling season is quickly coming to a conclusion, the Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board (PSAMB) reported that the sale of cotton crop was less than one-fourth of the previous year as of March 9. In addition to the PSAMB, the revised estimates for the crop arrival in state mandis by the cotton trading organisation Indian Cotton Association Limited (ICAL) are also very bleak. Compared to the 7.20 lakh bales that landed last year, the crop is expected to arrive in just approximately 2.50 lakh bales (1 bale equals 170kg). . In contrast to the state’s 7 lakh quintal arrivals up until March 9, according to PSAMB data, 28.89 lakh quintal arrived in the state last year.
The last two years’ repeated pest attacks are thought to be the cause of the crop’s much decreased production. In the current growing season, constant rains and initial lack of canal water during sowing season are cited as contributing factors to the crop’s poor performance. According to production patterns, it appears that the farmers have lost faith in the crop, and little change in the area under the crop is anticipated in the upcoming sowing season. Despite the crop continuing to grow, this exceeding the minimal support price in terms of pricing. In comparison to the MSP of Rs 6,280 per quintal for 27.5-28.5 MM long staple, the crop is currently getting Rs 8,000 per quintal.
Similar to Punjab, the production in the neighbouring state of Haryana is likewise on the lower side; according to the ICAL’s updated projections, it has been reduced from 15 lakh bales that were sent to mandis last year to 12 lakh bales. Rajasthan’s cotton production is anticipated to increase from the 26.12 lakh bales produced the year before to 27.60 lakh bales this year. According to ICAL, the total cotton production in the three states of North India has been assessed at 42.09 lakh bales, down from 48.37 lakh bales the year before.
Based on the recorded arrivals 1.69 lakh bales have arrived in Punjab as of February 28 according to ICAL, 6.86 lakh bales have come in Haryana, and 22.53 lakh bales have landed in Rajasthan. In total, 31.08 lakh bales have landed in the three states as of February 28.
Punjab’s cotton coordinator Rajnish Goel stated, “The arrival patterns are significantly lower than last year. According to the patterns, the overall number of visitors to mandis remained significantly fewer than in previous years.
