CAI Has Downwardly Revised Its Earlier Cotton Production Figures

The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has downwardly revised its earlier cotton production figures and is now expecting a crop of 37.4 million bales of 170 kg each, during the current marketing year, the Hindu Business Line reported quoting PTI.

In its December 2013 estimate, the cotton industry body said the country’s cotton production is likely to be around 37.6 million bales for the cotton season from October 2013 to September 2014.

In 2012-13 cotton year, India produced 35.675 million bales of cotton.

According to CAI’s latest estimates, cotton acreage during the current season has slightly decreased to 11.8 million hectares, as against last season’s acreage of 12 million hectares.

Cotton production is expected to be higher in the current season despite a marginal drop in acreage owing to good monsoon and a substantial increase in acreage in Gujarat, the state that produces the highest quantity of cotton.

Till December 2013, cotton arrival was up by 16.8 percent year-on-year to 11.975 million bales, the CAI said.

The industry body expects cotton output in Gujarat to increase substantially to 11.8 million bales, compared to 8.65 million bales produced during the last season.

Cotton output in Maharashtra is also expected to be higher this season compared to the last season, while it is likely to be slightly lower in Andhra Pradesh and Punjab.

Separately, the Government of India has forecasted cotton production during 2013-14 season at 35.3 million bales and it has increased the minimum support price by Rs. 100 to Rs. 3,700 per quintal.