COTTON ARRIVALS have begun in Punjab and Haryana. 1,800 bales have arrived till date in the mandis of Punjab and Haryana. However, the arrivals have not started in northern Rajasthan. The delayed arrivals has not affected the prices of cotton, which is being sold at Rs 2,150 to Rs 2,200 per quintal and above, compared to the minimum support price of Rs 1,960 per quintal announced by the government. Arrivals are picking up in the districts of Bathinda, Mansa and Muktsar in Punjab and Fatehabad in Haryana. Till Thursday, 1,600 bales of cotton arrived in the Punjab mandis and 200 bales arrived in Haryana mandis. The Northern India Cotton Association has predicted a production of 52 lakh bales this year, compared to 47 lakh bales in the previous year across Punjab, Haryana and northern Rajasthan (comprising Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh and Bikaner districts). According to trade figures, Budhlada Mandi, Sunam Mandi, Phikhi Mandi and Tohana Mandi were receiving Rs 350-400 bales against 1,000 bales by this time last year. Rakesh Rathi, president of The Northern India Cotton Association told ET that the picture of the cotton arrivals was not dismal or very good. “ With delay in sowing of cotton, a resultant of late harvesting of wheat, the arrivals are lesser compared to the previous year. Mill consumers (firms and companies) are currently procuring the cotton at Rs 1960 per quintal,” he said Sitting in Abohar Mandi, Pradeep Sharda said that large picking would start from 15 Sept where we expect 5,000 to 7,000 bales per day. “Initially, good demand may keep the rate stable and we expect exporters to further increase the rates,” he said while adding that after October, global scenario would charter the cotton rates. Insufficient rain rains followed by scathing attack of diseases such as mealey bug and leaf Curl virus has affected the crop and the yield. “ In the previous year when the government MSP of Cotton was Rs 1,890 I had sold my cotton at Rs 2,200. Compared to the previous year, I have sprayed four times more, hence I am looking for better prices. The government should give us an additional bonus too,” said Baldev Singh Sarpanch of Kararwala village