"The acreage under cotton has reached an estimated 18 lakh hectares so far compared to 25 lakh hectares in the corresponding period last year," a state Agri Department official said.
Last year (2011-12), the total acreage under cotton in the state stood at over 30 lakh hectares.
Saurashtra and Kutch regions have recorded 76 per cent deficient rains so far this monsoon, as compared to 24 per cent deficient rains in the comparable period last year, an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.
These two regions account for about 70 per cent of the cotton production of the state.
"We estimate a dip of 15-20 per cent in cotton acreage during the kharif sowing in Gujarat if rains do not revive by mid-August," Gujarat State Cooperative Cotton Federation (GSCCF) Managing Director N M Sharma told PTI.
If weather conditions continue like this for the next two weeks or so, we estimate total cotton acreage in Gujarat would not cross 25 lakh hectares, he said.
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"Saurashtra and Kutch regions have witnessed comparatively low sowing, due to scanty rains," said Sharma, who heads the body which has 5.5 lakh cotton growers as its members.
"Even if it rains in August, there will be scope to cover up the lost ground," a Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) official said.
The cotton production from Gujarat last year stood at 110 lakh bales (One bale equals 170 kg).
In the wake of low sowing reports, cotton prices have firmed up in Gujarat which accounts for nearly 33 per cent of the country's total production.
"The per candy (356 kg) prices of cotton have risen from Rs 32,000 to nearly Rs 38,000 per candy in the last one month," claimed Sharma.