Cotton production in India’s biggest cotton producing state Maharashtra, which accounts for almost 25-30 per cent of India’s cotton output is likely to drop 10-15 per cent in this season. Reasons include delay in sowing of cotton because of a late monsoon and also a partial switch by farmers in Vidarbha and Marathawada to alternative crops.

“In the primary cotton-growing belt of Marathawada and Vidarbha, due to a delay in rains, farmers switched to other crops like soya bean, which will lead to cotton output falling 10-15 per cent” minister of agriculture Pandurang Phundkar said.

“But, the shortfall in production of cotton along with more demand, will garner higher returns for farmers,” media reports quoted the minister as saying.

The monsoon has arrived late in a few regions of Maharashtra in this season, which is not friendly for the cotton crop.

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