The Cotton Advisory Board (CAB), the Government of India’s body that estimates cotton production, consumption, exports and imports in the country, has forecasted India’s cotton production for the ongoing season (October 2013-September 2014) to be at a record high of 37.5 million bales of 170 kg each.
The all-time high output is expected despite the area under cotton being lower compared to last season as the yield per hectare is likely to increase, according to the CAB.
In 2012-13 cotton season, the area under cotton was 11.9 million hectares, which is likely to decrease to 11.5 million hectares this season, due to reduction in cotton sowing area in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.
While the area under cotton has decreased by 6.6 percent to 3.8 million hectares in Maharashtra, the area under cotton has fallen by 32 percent to 300,000 hectares in Rajasthan and by 10.7 percent to 2.1 million in Andhra Pradesh.
Talking to reporters after a meeting, Textile Commissioner AB Joshi said the yield per hectare this year is expected to be around 500 kg and the Textiles and the Agriculture Ministries are working to increase the yield per hectare to 550 kg.
Domestic textile mills consumption of cotton may reach 25.8 million bales this season, up from 25 million bales last season, according to the CAB.
India’s cotton exports are likely to decline to 9 million bales this season, compared to exports of 10.1 million bales last season, as China has reduced cotton imports from India.
India’s cotton imports are also projected to grow to 1.7 million bales this season, compared to 1.4 million bales last season.
Source:
http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/textile-news/newsdetails.aspx?news_id=155082
