COTTON-Mill Lobby Scuttles Cotton Exports

COTTON Mill Lobby Scuttles Cotton Exports D P Sharma THE cotton crop prospects have undergone a profound change following copious rains in all the cotton growing areas in the country since about the beginning of the second week of July. Initial anxiety emanating from late and indifferent start -of the monsoon has given way to optimism tinged with caution stemming from the unpredictable nature of the weather during the crucial weeks ahead. Since cotton fetched higher prices this season than during 1990-91 till about the middle of July and prices ruled substantially above the support prices there is no reason why the area under cotton should be less than in 1991-92 except in some isolated tracts in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh where sowings were hampered by adverse weather conditions. However, since cotton is cultivated mainly under rain-fed conditions and there has been no significant breakthrough in dry farming, the final crop out-turn and the quality of cotton continue to depend on the pattern of rainfall distribution.