Acreage of cotton across the country in the ongoing kharif season was at 7.18 mln ha as of 7 July, up 5.8% on year. The acreage is also marginally higher than the normal of 7.17 mln ha for the corresponding period, based on the average of last five years. The acreage is higher than last year due to shift from pulses to cotton as it offers lucrative prices.