AP cotton output seen up 20%

Around 12,000 bales of new Bt cotton crop have arrived in various markets of Andhra Pradesh. While Andhra Pradesh Cotton Association (APCOT), an apex body of farmers and traders, estimated the crop size at over 50 lakh bales (180 kg each), the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) estimated the same at around 40 lakh bales.

Traders expect the harvest will be 20 per cent more than the last year's crop. Cotton in the state has been cultivated in 26.5 lakh acres this year against 23 lakh acres last year. The total production in the state was over 41 lakh bales last year.

Best cotton fetched Rs 2,070 a quintal in the open market. Farmers got Rs 2,200 a quintal at the beginning of the season, afterwards the prices came down to Rs 1,800-1,850 levels.

Farmers in the state are demanding Rs 500 more for their crop. According to them, they spent Rs 15,000-20,000 an acre and achieved on an average 10-12 quintal an acre.

The CCI is offering Rs 2050 a quintal, Rs 40 more than it paid last year for 30 mm staple length with 3.4 to 4.7 micronaire and moisture up to 8 per cent, said P A Ghate, branch manager.

The CCI, he said, had adopted 8 villages for contract farming. Its scientists are helping 900 farmers to raise cotton in 5,111 hectares.