India may beat US in cotton output

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).

At present, China is the top producer, consumer and importer of cotton in the world.

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.

All these factors are likely to beat the government cotton output estimate of 27 million bales (1 bale = 170 kg) in 2006-07.

"We may even touch 30 million bales this year, making us the number-two producer in the world," said Grover.