India's cotton production during the current marketing year, which began this month, is likely to decline marginally by around five percent to 33.4 million bales of 170 kg each from 2011-12's production of 35.3 million bales, Textile Commissioner AB Joshi said after a meeting of the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB).
He attributed the likely decline in cotton production to lower rainfall in Gujarat's Saurashtra region, which affected cotton sowing in the area.
The CAB estimated the total cotton production in the central zone to be around 18.2 million bales, of which Gujarat would contribute 8.5 million bales, followed by Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh with 8 million bales and 1.7 million bales, respectively.
The northern region of the country is likely to produce 5.8 million bales of cotton, with Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan accounting for 2.4 million, 1.8 million and 1.6 million bales, respectively.
The CAB estimates the total area under cotton in India to be slightly lower at 11.61 million hectares in 2012-13, compared to the area of 12.18 million hectares on which cotton was cultivated last season.
Similarly, the overall demand for cotton is likely to dip from 38.22 million bales in 2011-12 to 34 million bales this season.
India is the world's second-largest cotton producer and last season the country exported around 12.8 million bales of cotton, with China accounting for about 65 percent of total cotton exports.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
