Punjab sees 15pc rise in cotton acreage.

LAHORE -- Punjab exA!A!pecA!ts a 12 to 15 per cent inA!A!crease in cotton acreage this year, whereas the farmers put this figure at around 35pc, especially for early sowing, saying that many positives are working in favour of the crop this season.

Farmers believe that the early sowing gathered brisk pace because the entire acreage cleared by the Mustard crop - a substantial one - has gone to cotton. When it was cleared in February, the maize window was missed and rice sowing time had not arrived - so the whole acreage went to cotton.

Imran Shah, a farmer and a seed seller from South Punjab, says cotton this year started with a very positive perception. Last year, rates - both international and domestic - remained high for the entire season, incentivising farmers for this year. The weather cooperated and the crop was managed with a few sprays and relatively little investment - multiplying farmers' income.

'This experience provided the conducive context to cotton this year,' Mr Shah says and explains: 'Though the early sowing window falls between February and the first week of April, farmers were found securing seed early December this year. This positive economic sheen pushed farmers for early and expanded sowing. How much would it translate into actual yield, only time would tell? But the beginning has been very positive, at least in the south. The only question mark right now is water availability, which is hampering the entire operation. Add extreme loadshedding during the last three weeks and diesel availability to it, which kept tube wells silent, and one worries on this account.'

The Punjab government, which conducts growers' opinion surveys before every crucial crop, expects a 12 to 15pc overall increase this year, over last year's 3.16 million acres. It, however, concedes this is a mere survey and the actual picture would emerge in its actual acreage survey in June - when the process gets...

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