The area under cotton in India has reduced. The reduction in area is primarily in the two major cotton growing states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Deficit rains and pest pressures have prompted farmers to either plant alternate crops, or delay/abandon planting altogether. The planted area is four per cent lower than last year.

In central Maharashtra a significant part of the cotton area has shifted to soybeans and fodder maize. The number of rainy days in July in major cotton districts has ranged between 5 to 15 days, prompting farmers to either delay planting or plant alternate crops. But farmers continue to prefer planting BT cotton due to its relative drought tolerance over competing crops, and wide planting window. The plants are in the early vegetative stage, with farmers mostly undertaking weeding operations.

In Saurashtra, Gujarat, farmers have replanted cotton in major cotton growing districts as lack of adequate moisture in July led to crop failure. Farmers have shifted acreage from groundnut to cotton due to poor price realization from groundnuts last year.

While there is a marginal increase in cotton acreage, the prolonged dry spell is affecting plant development, and is expected to have a significant impact on cotton yields if rains are not received in the next 15 days.