The land under cotton acreage decreased by 15 per cent as more and more farmers have shifted to soyabean in the hope of better returns. Cotton Association of India (CAI) president Atul Ganatra has stated the drop in cotton planting is likely to see a increase in soybean planting after farmers received good rates during the ongoing season and a rise in import duties.

With Pink Bollworm attack Kapas sowing is expected to reduce by 10-12 per cent in Maharashtra and Telangana. He estimated the area under cotton could decrease to 108 lakh hectares in 2018-19 marketing season that starts at the beginning of October, down from 122.6 lakh hectares in the current year.

Besides in the last few months the soyabean prices have increased by about Rs 1,000 per quintal from Rs 28,000 per quintal to Rs 3,800 per quintal.

Textile Commissioner Kavita Gupta feels the shift in area under cotton might not be important. There may not be much decline in total production as area under cotton in other states may compensate for any decline in area in pink boll worm affected states. Farmers would shift to soyabean, if prices increase points out Pasha Patel, C, State Agriculture Price Commission (SAPC) and there would be no takers for cotton. The area under cotton in Maharashtra has gone up to 42 lakh hectares this season, while area under soybean dropped to 36 lakh hectares during this season.

Meanwhile, India has signed contracts to export 200,000 bales of cotton to China. India is expected to export 70 lakh bales of the fibre in 2017-18 against 58 lakh bales shipped in 2016-17 season.