Pest infestation likely to lower cotton output by 10% across major states

The Maharashtra government has estimated at least a 17% decline in the state's output

India's cotton output is likely to decline by 10 per cent from the pre-harvest forecast of a bumper production of 37.7 million bales (170 kg each) for 2017-18. This is due to extensive attack of the pink bollworm in major growing states.

Industry veterans gathered at the 9th Asian Textiles Conference, organised by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry on Wednesday, estimated a massive impact on output this year, due to the infestation across Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra and Karnataka. With this, India's cotton output for the ongoing season is likely to remain flat at around 34.5 million tonnes from 2016-17, despite