Maharashtra: Cotton acreage likely to decrease this year
Cotton Output Area May Shrink in MaharashtraAurangabad : Farmers of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar had to sell the cotton stored at home for several months at a price lower than the guaranteed price. As a result, after the price expectations of the farmers were dashed, this year it seems that they have preferred maize coming in three months instead of cotton coming in four months. Last year, the area sown under cotton in three districts of Marathwada, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Jalna and Beed, was 9 lakh 18 thousand 4 hectares.Last season, the guaranteed price of cotton was Rs 7 thousand 121. But in reality, farmers had to sell cotton to private ginning professionals at a price of about Rs 6 and a half thousand. Many farmers stored cotton at home for a long time, hoping that prices would rise. But till the end did not get the expected price. Apart from this, facing the problem of not getting laborers to pick cotton, farmers had to compromise with the market price. Farmers were not able to bear the cost of spraying along with the cost of harvesting, spraying etc.After the Corona period, the price of cotton at the international level had reached Rs 13,000 to 14,000 per quintal. After the corona epidemic subsided, the demand for cotton also increased at the international level. As a result, the prices were also good. There was a big purchase by the Central Cotton Corporation. But after that the prices were not that good. This year, only 40 percent sowing has been done in the three districts of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar division till Monday. Although 60 percent sowing has been done in Beed, but more farmers are preferring tur, maize, soybean and sugarcane instead of cotton.Every year more cotton was sown in the village. This year, maize has been sown in 80 percent of the area in our village Shivrai (Oil. Vaijapur). There has been a big problem of laborers for cotton. Laborers have to be brought from Madhya Pradesh for harvesting. The prices of cotton were also not reasonable. Compared to that, maize is reasonable and the crop is ready in three months. - Bhausaheb Patil, farmer.Many farmers of Vaijapur taluka have initially been attracted to crops like maize and pigeon pea instead of cotton. They are citing the problem of not getting laborers for harvesting cotton. Maize is being seen as a crop that is ready in three months. - Vishal Salve, Agriculture Officer, Vaijapur.50 thousand hectares of area likely to decreaseInitial estimates in Sambhajinagar district are that this year the area under cotton will decrease by 50 thousand hectares and in return the area under maize, pigeon pea and soybean will increase. The area is expected to decrease only after looking at the sale of cotton seeds. - Dr. Prakash Deshmukh, Joint Director, Agriculture.read more :- CCI buys 100 lakh bales cotton at minimum support price
