According to a report prepared by Indiancommodities.com, a website dedicated to agro commodities of the country, higher yield against lower sowing will change the production scenario of the country by almost 4 lakh bales of surplus production in these two states. Production of cotton, which was expected to be just 8.79 lakh bales in Rajasthan, is expected to witness 11.77 lakh bales by year end (September 00), a steep rise of 2.98 lakh bales. Similarly estimate for Haryana will witness an increase of 0.90 lakh bales at 11.38 lakh bales. The earlier estimated production was 10.48 lakh bales.

As a result the cumulative production in northern zone stands increased to 34.14 lakh bales as against the earlier estimate of 30.26 lakh bales. This is inclusive of cotton production in Punjab estimated to be 10.99 lakh bales.However, the cotton production estimated for other regions of the country are held steady at the previously arrived estimates. Central zone comprising of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra is expected to yield 94.58 lakh bales for the year ending September 2000.

Gujarat is estimated to held over its numero uno position at 39.38 lakh bales, Madhya Pradesh at 21 lakh bales and Maharashtra at 34.20 lakh bales.The cotton production in Southern zone comprising of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu is expected to be 35.59 lakh bales. Karnataka is estimated to produce 8.82 lakh bales, whereas cotton production in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu is estimated to be 20.59 lakh bales and 6.18 lakh bales, respectively.

Other regions are expected to produce 1.50 lakh bales while loose cotton is estimated to be 6.25 lakh bales, thus taking the total cotton crop at 172.05 lakh bales against the earlier estimate of 166.17 lakh bales.

Meanwhile the arrivals of new crop have picked up and the daily arrivals in northern area continues at the equivalent of 12,000 bales. Generally clear and favourable weather conditions prevail which is facilitating the field activities. There are sporadic reports of leaf curl virus and boll worm pest attacks in certain parts of the region, which might have negligible effect on the new crop. It may affect the late maturing plants, the report says.

In the central zone, sowing in Gujarat is over and arrivals of crop have started. Timely rains in first week of October has brought much needed relief to the standing crop, which was threatened earlier due to inadequate moisture levels. The crop situation and the arrivals both are satisfactory in Maharashtra as well as Madhya Pradesh.

In south, sowing is still taking place in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. According to the report 50 per cent of area is yet to be sown. However the sowing activities in Andhra Pradesh is almost complete. Arrivals of crop in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has started in a small way while Andhra Pradesh is expected to commence arrivals shortly.