Bad weather not to hit output

The Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) may stick to its earlier projection of 35.5 million bales (of 170 kg each) of cotton output for the current crop season that began in October.

It may even push it up higher in the range of 35.5-36 million bales, said official sources. They said the CAB meeting is expected on November 15 to assess position following reports of output loss in many areas and higher output in others.

According to the latest report of the Cotton Corporation of India, acreage had gone up to 12.2 million hectares in the current season as against 11.1 million hectares last season.

Andhra Pradesh suffered crop loss due to erratic weather and disruption in power supply, while northern states like Punjab had record output. Due to receding productivity of the soil, the ministry of agriculture had advised farmers in Punjab and Haryana to shift to cash crops like cotton and oilseeds.

“The soil productivity as far as rice and wheat is concerned have been overstretched. That is why the ministry of agriculture is now focusing on a second green revolution in the eastern region, where the agro climatic conditions are favourable and have greater potential for rice and wheat,” explained an official source as to why Punjab is focusing on cotton instead of conventional crops.

CAB will also discuss output of loose cotton, also called unpressed cotton, for the first time in 12 years. The review was done by a private agency 12 years before, when the total output was 25-25.5 million bales.

CAB, comprising representatives from the industry, trade, exporters, growers and the government, had at its meeting in August projected a record output of 35.5 million bales, against 32.5 million bales last year. It had projected a total demand of 35.1 million bales for the crop season 2011-12 as against 32.3 million bales last season. This is as against a supply of 40.7 million bales as against 37 million bales earlier.