India?s cotton area in 2010-11 (Oct-Sep) is likely to be higher by 10-15% as high prices during the current season may spur farmers to shift to cotton from other crop, analysts and traders said Tuesday.
In 2009-10, area under cotton cultivation was 10.17 million hectare as per estimates by Cotton Advisory Board.
Till Jun 25, area under cotton cultivation in the country is 2.62 million ha.
In the cotton year starting October, acreage will be higher on year as farmers are attracted by high prices in the previous season, said Veeresh Hiremath, analyst at Karvy Comtrade.
In Gujarat, acreage is shifting from groundnut to cotton, said Hiremath.
Gujarat is the largest cotton producing state in India with area around 2.6 million ha in 2009-10. Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are the other leading cotton producing states in the country.
In 2009-10 cotton area in Maharashtra was 3.5 million ha and in Andhra Pradesh 1.32 million ha.
Sowing is seen higher all over India from previous year, said Jagdish Patel, a Kadi-based cotton trader in Gujarat.
?Because of higher demand and good payment to farmers, cotton area in Gujarat may go up by 5-10% this season?, said Patel.
Sowing has been taking place as rains have arrived on time this year, said Anupam Barik, director, Directorate of Cotton Development.
High price is a positive factor but may not be the only reason for possible rise in acreage, he said.
?Only when rains are delayed, farmers have no choice, they go for cotton,? Barik said.