Cotton crop in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, which together account for around 24% of the country's total cotton production, is under threat from low rainfall in the earlier part of the season followed by sudden increase in showers witnessed in the last few weeks.
Experts believe that if weather conditions do not improve in the next few days, cotton crop in the region could be around 10% less this year and its quality could also be impacted because uneven rains have made the standing crop prone to pest attack.
Already, diseases like Bronze Wilt and boll weevil, which causes loss of yield have been seen in the cotton crop of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.
"First it was drought that threatened the cotton crop then heavy rains are continuing in the region these days, which have watered the hopes of cotton growers in the region," BS Sidhu, director, agriculture, Punjab, told FE.
He added that cotton crop in the region could be about 10% less this year in compared to previous year and its quality might also be affected.
Giving details of year-wise production, Sidhu said Punjab produced 2.8 million bales (1 bale=170 kg) in year 2006-07 which fell down to 2.4 million bales in year 2007-08. The fall continued in 2008-09 as well and the total production was estimated to be around 2.3 million bales.
Production in the region is expected to come down not only because of uneven distribution of monsoon, but also on account of relentless decline in acreage.
Last year, the total area under cotton cultivation in Punjab was around 5.30 lakh hectares which further declined to 5.27 lakh hectares.
In fact since 2006-07, the state has been witnessing a fall in the cotton acreage. In Haryana, the area under cotton had come down by 14% and at present around 4.17 lakh hectare was covered under cotton in the state.
Though data from Rajasthan was not available, cotton growers from Bathinda bordering Rajasthan belt said situation was no different in the border belt.
"The reason for the decline in production last year was reduction in the total under cotton cultivation and the trend has continued even this year," said B S Duggal, additional director, agriculture, Haryana.
The Indian Cotton Association has lowered its 2009-10 cotton production from the region comprising of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to 32 lakh bales, from the earlier estimates of 41 lakh bales.
This would be the lowest ever production of cotton in the last one decade.
The earlier low was in 1987-88, when 33.26 lakh bales were produced. Not only uneven rains, experts from Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana and Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar along with their respective state agriculture departments have cautioned farmers of 'Red Leaf' or 'Bronze Wilt' disease.
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