Acreage of cotton in the ongoing kharif season is at 11.43 mln ha as of 03 august, up 18.5% on year. The acreage is higher than the normal of 10.67 mln ha for the corresponding period based on the average of last five years. Acreage under cotton rose as farmers shifted from soybean due to lucrative prices. Near normal monsoon rains have also aided sowing of cotton across the country.