But cotton experts are of the opinion that Punjab's total cotton production this year would not cross the 5 lakh bales mark. The results are so depressing that some of the experts associated with the Punjab Agriculture University and government procurement agencies have started predicting that the total crop this year would be around 4 lakh bales, notwithstanding the fact that Punjab produced 24.6 lakh bales five years ago.

Market analysis indicates that till yesterday evening, Kotkapura Mandi received 4,000 bales against 14,000 by this time last year, while Muktsar received 2,500 against 15,000, Abohar 24,000 against 35,000 and Fazilka 8,000 against 11,000 bales.

However, the Northern India Cotton Association which revised its estimates twice, predicted a production of 6.5 lakh bales in its October circular but its vice-president Ashok Kapur told ENS that the picture of the cotton arrivals was so dismal that the association would have to revise the estimates once again. He hoped that Punjab's total cotton production would be between 4 and 5 lakh bales.

``The yield this year is so meagre that the growers who used to measure their crops in Mans (one man + 37.323 kg) are doing the measuring in kilograms,'' said Sukhwinder Singh, State Executive Member of the BKU. He alleged that the government had failed to come to the rescue of growers whose cotton, popularly known as white-gold was devoured by pests for the fifth consecutive year.

Till September, the crop was very good. But later, the unseasonal rains followed by scathing attack of diseases such as American Bollworm, Leaf Curl, Jasid and White Fly destroyed a major part of it. Moreover, no fruiting has taken place on the RG-8 variety of Bengal Desi which was largely sown by the Punjab farmers on the recommendation of the Punjab Agriculture Department and PAU.

Meanwhile, the situation in neighbouring Haryana is almost the same as it has received 1.72 lakh bales against that of 2.45 lakh bales during this time last year.

However, the situation in the Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh districts of Rajasthan is a little different. Till last evening, both the districts had received 1.45 lakh bales against 1.40 lakh bales during this time last year.While Desi is selling at between Rs 1,800 and 1,950 against last year's rates of between Rs 1,500 and 1,650, Narma is selling at between Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,250 against last year's rate of between Rs 1,900 and 2,100.

The Bengal Desi may go the onions' way in the coming days as it is being allegedly hoarded by the stockists. The production of this variety is significantly low this year despite its multiple use, especially for surgical purposes and manufacturing of coarse-coat thread commonly used for carpets, cotton sheets, pillows and quilts.