India is likely to overtake the US in 2006-07 (October-September) as the world's second largest cotton producer behind China, a senior industry official said on Tuesday. | |
| "Improved yield due to better farm practices, higher use of Bt cotton seeds and contract farming will help us displace the US as number-two producer in the world," said Subhash Grover, managing director, Cotton Corporation of India Ltd (CCI). |
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| At present, China is the top producer, consumer and importer of cotton in the world. |
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| Another reason for likely bumper cotton output in India this year (2006-07) is improved weather conditions in major crop-growing areas of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, which received good rainfall last month, said Grover. |
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| All these factors are likely to beat the government cotton output estimate of 27 million bales (1 bale = 170 kg) in 2006-07. |
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| "We may even touch 30 million bales this year, making us the number-two producer in the world," said Grover. |
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