India's 2008/09 cotton production is estimated at 23.0 million bales, down 1.0 million or 4 percent from last month, and down 1.6 million or 7 percent from last year. Area is estimated at 9.35 million hectares, down 0.2 million or 2 percent from last year, and yield is estimated at 536 kilograms per hectare, down 4 percent from last year. According to the FAS Office of Agricultural Affairs in New Delhi, this season’s planted area decreased compared to last season because of delayed planting and a shift to other crops. In parts of central and southern India, planting was delayed due to insufficient July rainfall. The delays resulted in a relatively shorter planting window. Additionally, farmers in some parts of the country, including Gujarat and Maharashtra, decided to plant short-season, early-maturing cotton varieties instead. In general, such varieties are lower yielding than full-season varieties. In the mainly irrigated northern growing states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, planted area is estimated down 17 percent on a year-to-year basis due chiefly to a shift from cotton to other crops such as coarse grains. Harvesting continues to progress very well, facilitated by mild, dry weather conditions. However, market arrivals are slow compared to the same period last year. Cotton Corporation of India reports that cumulative cotton arrivals through January 3, 2009 are estimated at 9.98 million US bales, down 21 percent compared to 12.7 during the same period last year. The decline in arrivals is significantly larger in the major cotton producing states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. (For more information, contact Dath Mita at 202-720-1071.)