Despite the highest-ever cultivation of cotton, in about 19.09 lakh hectares or over 47.72 lakh acres, in Telangana this year the farmers have some reason to cheer since cotton production in the country is estimated to be lesser than last year and the second lowest since 2010-11. The lower production is stated to be on account of a couple of long dry spells during the vegetative growth and flowering stages of the crop.
Prices of cotton in the open market have ruled on par with the minimum support price (MSP) of ₹4,160 per quintal for long-staple variety which is mostly grown in Telangana, or even better sometimes during the last year (2016-17). The Centre has fixed the MSP of ₹4,320 per quintal for long-staple variety for 2017-18.
According to officials, production of cotton in the country was estimated at 330.92 lakh bales (one bale is equal to 170 kg) last year against the expected output of 322.73 lakh bales this year. The fibre crop production was 300.05 lakh bales in 2015-16 and it was 348.05 lakh bales, 359.02 lakh bales, 342.20 lakh bales, 352 lakh bales and 330 lakh bales, respectively, in the preceding years.
“We are expecting a production of about 28 lakh bales to 30 lakh bales this year in Telangana and the plans for carrying out smooth cotton procurement operations at MSP are already in motion beginning with the collection of cotton growers information by the District Agriculture Officers by October 5,” Agriculture Production Commissioner C. Parthasarathi explained adding that they had planned to complete issuance of quick response (QR) bar-coded identity cards to farmers in about a week’s time after October 5.
Mr. Parthasarathi, who is also the Secretary Agriculture, said the bar-coded identity cards would ensure speedy processing of cotton disposal by farmers at the procurement centres of the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI).
Agriculture Department officials stated that the average yield of cotton could be less this year compared to last year when it was about 6 quintals per hectare due to a couple of long dry spells during the vegetative growth and flowering stages of the crop.
The officials said the fibre crop production was about 29.36 lakh bales last year and 37.33 lakh bales, 35.83 lakh bales and 42.65 lakh bales in the preceding years, respectively.
Meanwhile, official sources stated that the CCI had agreed to open 111 procurement centres against 84 last year.
The State Government has sent proposals for opening 143 purchase centres in the wake of increase in the cultivation of cotton this year. The officials expressed hope that some more purchase centres could be allowed at ginning mills.
The CCI procurement centres are likely to start functioning from October 10 based on the cotton arrivals.
