Gujarat may lose numero uno position in cotton yield

Gujarat may lose its numero uno position in terms of registering highest cotton yield in the country. In the wake of comparatively low cotton production and increased use of spurious Bt cotton seeds, cotton yield in Gujarat is estimated to decline substantially this year. Interestingly, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are likely to outnumber Gujarat by clocking higher per hectare yield in 2008-09 (October-September).

According to the industry estimates, yield in the top cotton producing state in the country is likely to come down to 633 kg per hectare in FY09 as compared to 786 kg per hectare in FY08. It may be mentioned here that Gujarat’s cotton acreage in the current cotton year stood marginally lower at 2.41 million hectares as against 2.42 million hectares previous year. However, the production is pegged at 9 million bales in FY09, while it hovered around 11.2 million bales in FY08.

Gujarat has always topped the list of states in terms of cotton yield in the country. This year, Gujarat is likely to lose its position to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, as the states are expected to register a yield of 708 kg per hectare and 670 kg per hectare respectively. Cotton production and acreage in Tamil Nadu has remained unchanged this year but Andhra Pradesh has seen a rise in both production and acreage in FY09.

“Apart from lower production, usage of duplicate and recycled Bt cotton seeds is the major reason for decline in the cotton yield,” said Arun Dalal, owner of Arun Dalal & Co, an Ahmedabad leading cotton trading firm.

Another factor responsible for lower yield is the lower arrivals of cotton from Maharashtra. “Around 1.5 milion bales come from Maharashtra every year but this year arrivals have been negligible. Cotton from Maharashtra sold in Gujarat is also included in Gujarat’s production, which ultimately has its share in cotton yield of the state,” said Kishor Shah of Central Gujarat Cotton Dealers Association (CGCDA).