Area of kharif cotton 17.28% more compared to last year

Higher area under cotton is reported from the states of Telangana (6.87 lakh ha), Maharashtra (6.61 lakh ha), Andhra Pradesh (1.19 lakh ha), Karnataka (1.05 lakh ha), Punjab (0.99 lakh ha), Haryana (0.61 lakh ha), Madhya Pradesh (0.28 lakh ha), Rajasthan (0.22 lakh ha) and Tamil Nadu (0.02 lakh ha). Less area is reported from Gujarat (1.09 lakh ha) and Odisha (0.04 lakh ha). Thus 16.65 lakh ha more area has been covered compared to last year, the ministry said in a statement.

The increase in area planted during the kharif season is not unique to cotton, as total area coverage has increased by 21.20 per cent to 691.86 lakh ha against 570.86 lakh ha area during the corresponding period of last year.

During the period from June 1 to July 16, 2020, actual rainfall received in the country is 338.3 mm against normal of 308.4 mm, the ministry said.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (RKS)