India's cotton production expected to be up by 12% despite erratic weather

PUNE: Despite erratic weather, cotton sector is confident of an increase of about 12% in production in 2017-18 as farmers are not interested in sowing pulses and soyabean. Industry has pegged cotton production estimate at 380 million bales against 340 million bales produced last year.

Sandeep Bajoria, chairman, All India Cottonseed Crushers' Association said, "We expect India's 2017-18 cotton production to be more by about 10% to 12% this year. It may hit 380 million bales from 340 million bales of previous year."

The area sown as on July 14 was 90.88 lakh hectare, up by 17 % from 73.93 lakh hectare sown on the corresponding date of previous year. Most of the cotton sowing has been over now as cotton sowing after July 15 is not advised by research institutes.

The industry has played down deficient rainfall in parts of cotton growing areas of Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka, claiming it will not have major impact on the production estimates.

"Farmers are shifting away from pulses and soyabean to cotton everywhere," said Bajoria.

Prices of pulses and soyabean ruled below minimum support price (MSP) while cotton was one of the few crops that gave good returns to farmers.

The cotton seed companies too confirmed a healthy growth in sales. “Our preliminary estimate is that the cotton seed sales will be higher by at least 10% this year over the previous,” said MB Shembeka, vice president, National Seed Association of India.

Though, re-sowing of the fibre crop did take place on some area, the seed industry too does not see any big adverse impact on cotton production due to the dry spell in first half of July.