Cotton cultivation this kharif in Telangana is up by over 26.5 per cent compared to last year.

The extent of cotton crop cultivation is 17.84 lakh hectares, more than half of 34.42 lakh hectares covered by all crops. Last year cotton was cultivated on 14.10 lakh hectares.

Farmers took to cotton cultivation on a large scale this season because of the poor market price for alternative crops such as pulses, maize and soyabean and the favorable seasonal conditions.

Another major reason that has driven farmers to go for cotton this year is the good price commanded by the crop last year — better than the minimum support price of Rs 4160 per quintal.

There will be an increase in the number of procurement centers in the wake of the increase in production this year.

The Cotton Corporation of India operated 84 procurement centers in the state last year.

Cotton arrivals this year are likely to happen from October.

Last year the failure of the crop in the northern and western parts of the country due to drought conditions, and the pest attack in Pakistan, had jacked up the prices of the fiber crop in the national markets and for exports.