Northern India's Cotton Cultivation Set to Thrive with Recent Rainfall

According to experts, the recent unexpected rain may result in an expansion of cotton plantations in the Northern States this year.

In Haryana, 3.5 Lakh hectares of cotton have already been sown. The government has set a target to sow cotton in 7 Lakh hectares this summer, whereas last season's cotton plantation in Haryana covered an area of 5.74 Lakh hectares, according to government data.

In Punjab, cotton cultivation has been initiated on 30,000 hectares of land, and the government has set a target of planting the crop on 3 lakh hectares, which is higher than the 2.48 lakh hectares covered last year.

During an interview, Ram Pratap Sihag, Joint Director with Haryana Agriculture Department, expressed his positive outlook on the recent rainfall. According to him, the rainfall is a welcome relief as it can prevent crop damage caused by high temperatures, which is commonly referred to as "burning." Last year, the region witnessed a significant reduction in cotton farming due to this problem. Furthermore, the rain will prove to be beneficial in accelerating the planting process, especially in areas lacking adequate irrigation facilities. As the government is discouraging the cultivation of water-intensive rice and promoting crop diversification this season, Mr. Sihag is optimistic that the cotton acreage will exceed last year's numbers.

According to Gurvinder Singh, Director of the Punjab Agriculture Department, the recent rainfall is not negative, despite being unusual. Instead, it is likely to have a positive impact on crop growth as it will increase the soil's moisture content. This, in turn, will reduce the need for groundwater usage, which is a benefit for farmers as it will lower their input costs.

As per a statement made by Rakesh Rathi, Ex-President of India Cotton Association Limited (ICAL), Bt cotton is grown in more than 95% of the cotton farming land in Punjab and Haryana, with the remaining 5% reserved for indigenous cotton varieties. The usual planting season for cotton in most regions of Punjab and Haryana ranges from mid-April to late May.

Additionally, Rathi has predicted an increase in cotton acreage in Haryana and northern Rajasthan this year in comparison to the previous year. He states, “farmers in Haryana and Rajasthan are expected to switch to cultivating cotton instead of crops like guar and moong pulse, as cotton is anticipated to fetch a more favorable price. Meanwhile, in Punjab, there is optimism that cotton cultivation will remain consistent with last year's acreage.”

With Inputs from The Hindu 

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