Cotton acreage in the country was up 30% on year at 2.47 million hectares as of Thursday, according to sowing data for 2017-18 (Jul-Jun). Attractive returns for the commodity prompted farmers to switch from pulses, especially pigeon pea, in most parts of the country. Progress of monsoon rains in key growing areas also helped in sowing. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana are among leading growers of the crop where monsoon is progressing well. The government has targeted to produce 35.50 million bales (1bale=170kg) of cotton in 2017-18 (Jul-Jun), higher than last year 32.58 million bales.