Page 2 - Cotton Crop
Pest attack, low yield to hit cotton crop
Following low arrivals, with falling yield due to pest attack, the cotton crop is set to fall significantly, say observers.Clarity is expected in a few weeks on the extent of damage the pink bollworm has done to the standing crop, especially in Maharashtra and Telangana. This had also happened last year in Gujarat and three years earlier in Haryana. Its gravity is higher this year; in disease-prone districts, farmers are selling damaged crop at 10-15 per cent less. Cotton Association of India (CAI) has projected the 2017-18 crop at 37.5 million bales (170 kg each). Atul Ganatra, president of CAI, said: "Based on reports from mandis (wholesale markets), we feel the yield will be lower by 10 per cent and, looking at lower arrivals at the beginning of the season, we will have to revise the crop estimate lower." Usually, from November onward, daily arrival historically averaged 200,000 bales a day; this time, they are 30 per cent lower. Lower yield, crop damage and farmers being tempted ..
 "Pest attack, low yield to hit cotton crop")
Spinning mills' margins to recover in Q3 on bumper cotton output
Profit margins of most spinning mills remained under pressure in Q1FY18
Farmers worried as cotton yield may be hit this year due to poor rains
Going down underStagnating cotton yield despite increase in areaCrop year (Oct - Sept) Area (lakh ha) Output (lakh bales) Yield (kg / ha)2010-11 111.42 339 5172011-12 121.78 367 5122012-13 119.78 370 5252013-14 119.6 398 5662014-15 128.46 386 5112015-16 118.77 338 4842016-17 105 351 5682017-18 - 350 -Sources : Cotton Advisory Board, Cotton Corporation of India; 1 bale = 170 kgsEven as farmers seem inclined to bring more area under cotton this year, they fear a decline in yield due to deficient rainfall in major growing areas during the last three weeks.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast this year's monsoon - like last year - to be normal. But, despite being a normal monsoon by the long-period average (LPA), the distribution remained a worry last year. While the middle-, northern- and eastern parts of India received above-normal rainfall, the western and southern parts remained degicient last year. Experts have started fearing a repeat of last year, with reports of ...
 "Farmers worried as cotton yield may be hit this year due to poor rains")
Cotton crop in top grower seen at three-year high on local price
India's total cotton area may climb 10% in 2017-18 from a year earlier, says Nayan Mirani
 "Cotton crop in top grower seen at three-year high on local price")