This year, farmers in the state have planted cotton on a considerably larger scale. The “white gold’s” cultivation area has increased by 52,000 hectares. A guaranteed market at the government’s minimum support price (MSP) has boosted farmers’ confidence in the cotton harvest.
According to Sukhdev Singh Brar, Director of Agriculture, the Centre hiked the MSP by Rs 200 (Rs 6,025 per quintal for long staple variety) yesterday, which has helped reduce the area under water-guzzling paddy. “Price is the most important decision factor for farmers, and the last two seasons saw farmers earn favorable returns, leading to additional cotton crop area,” he added.
