Cotton area in Maharashtra declines by 6.3%

PUNE: Cotton acreage in second largest producer Maharashtra has declined by 6.3% due to last year's drought in the state.

According to the statistics of the state agriculture department, cotton has been sown over 41.26 lakh hectare area till August 26 as against 38.64 lakh hectare area sown on the same day last year.

Many cotton farmers have shifted to soyabean due to good prices of oilseed crop last year. The Cotton Association of India has that the cotton production in 2013-14 will be marginally higher than the previous year due to expected gain in yields this year.

Large area under cotton crop in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra has been damaged due to excessive rainfall in July.