Cotton Advisory Board sees lower kharif sowing

However, the board could not provide any indications of the likely fall in acreage

After three years of a bumper cotton crop, cotton sowing is expected to be affected next season, as farmers are looking for higher realisation from other crops, such as sugarcane. In its meeting held on Wednesday at the Textile Commissioner's office here the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) projected lower cotton sowing next kharif season. The board however, could not provide any indications of the likely fall in acreage.

Textile Commissioner A B Joshi, after the CAB meeting, said, "Even internationally, the cotton crop is expected to fall next year." According to the International Cotton Advisory Committee, in 2012-13 (July to June) cotton crop is estimated at 26.01 million tonnes globally, while in 2013-14 the crop is estimated lower at 23.47 million tonnes.

In the last few months, cotton prices in India have remained in the range of Rs 17,000 to Rs 18,000 per bale (170 kg). However, with the rising cost of agricultural inputs, farmers are looking for crops that provide higher realisations.

CAB has also projected cotton crop at 34 million bales for the 2012-13 season (October-September) compared to the previous estimate of 33 million bales. The increase is attributed to higher crop of a million bales in southern states, taking the total crop there to 9.5 million bales, said Joshi. Mill consumption is expected to go up from 22.3 million bales last year to 23.5 million bales. Non-mill consumption this season is expected to double to two million bales, from a million bales last year.

Interestingly, CAB has been increasing its estimates for cotton imports and exports. At its first meeting for the 2012-13 season nearly six months ago, it estimated cotton exports at seven million bales, which was raised to eight million bales in its January meeting. And on Wednesday, the board said exports are estimated at 8.1 million bales. Import estimates have been raised to 2.5 million bales, from earlier estimates of two million bales.

The Commissioner, who also heads the CAB, said players in south India have been importing cotton from South Africa, Australia and the US, mostly of the long and medium staple variety, as they found it cheaper and of better quality. Increasing imports and relatively limited exports have kept cotton prices under control.