India’s cotton production to grow 3.8% in 2016-17

The Dollar Business Bureau 

India’s cotton production is expected to increase by 3.8% in 2016-17 from a year ago period due to a sharp growth in yield in the aftermath of a favorable monsoon.

On Monday, the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) held a meeting, during which it estimated that the domestic cotton production could reach 35.1 million bales of 170 kg each for the cotton year 2016-17. The cotton year starts on October 1st every year. The output of cotton was 33.8 million bales last year.

The total area under cultivation has fallen to 8.61 million hectare in 2016-17 from 10.68 million hectares in 2015-16.

But Textiles Commissioner Kavita Gupta assured that this shift might change next year on account of a changing weather pattern.

“We are estimating a bumper cotton crop this year because of a better monsoon and no pest attacks,” Gupta said.

Last year, the domestic production of cotton was hit severely in Punjab and Haryana due to whitefly attack and the pink bollworm attack in Gujarat.

But a normal monsoon this year has helped germination of cotton pods in almost the entire country. The cotton board has estimated a 17.47% growth in yield to 568.29 kg per hectare in 2016-17 from 483.79 kg per hectare in 2015-16. The average yield in Punjab is likely to rise to 597.66 kg per hectare in 2016-17 from 376.11 kg per hectare in 2015-16.

Pakistan is one of the major importers of Indian cotton. Last year, it bought almost 40% of India’s cotton due to a crop failure in its domestic market last year. “This year Pakistan’s requirement will be less. With no significant increase in cotton exports to China estimated, overall shipment of cotton may decline to 5 million bales in 2016-17 from 6.9 million bales in 2015-16,” Gupta said.

India is scheduled to participate in the International Cotton Advisory Committee’s plenary session in Islamabad by October end.