Cotton production to touch 35 million bales

Cotton ginners across the country expect cotton production to hover around 35.5 million bales (1 bale=170 kg) in 2010-11, which would be an increase of 4 million bales as compared to 31.5 million bales in 2009-10.

The cotton production estimate was arrived at after a meeting of ginners from across the country in Rajkot today. The meeting was organised by the Saurashtra Ginners Association (SGA) to discuss the crop condition, production and industry scenario in the country.

The ginning industry representatives also discussed crop condition in top cotton-producing states. “Cotton output in Gujarat is likely to be around 13.5-14 million bales for the new season as against 10.5 million bales last year. Opening stock in Gujarat is about 300,000-400,000 bales,” said Bharatbhai Vala, president, SGA.

Punjab Ginners Association’s president Bhagavan Bansal said, “Monsoon has been favourable so far this year and we are expecting about 1.8-2 million bales of cotton production in Punjab.”

Haryana is also likely to see a rise in cotton output. According to Sushil Mittal, president, Haryana Ginning Association, cotton production in the state will be about 1.8-2 million bales for the next season. The total production of cotton in North India is predicted to be about 4-4.5 million bales for the next season.

“We are expecting about 4.6 million bales of cotton production in Andhra Pradesh,” said Chandrakant Gujarati, secretary, Andhra Pradesh Ginners Association.

Maharashtra-based Khandesh Ginners and Pressing Mills Association estimates cotton production of 100 million bales in Maharashtra on the back of good monsoon and rise in cotton acreage.