The Hindu Business Line : Cottonseed output pegged at 80 lakh t

COTTONSEED production in the country is expected to touch 80 lakh tonnes due to record crop during the current season, up 35 per cent over the previous season's 59 lakh tonnes, according to Mr Sandeep Bajoria, Chairman, All India Cottonseed Crushers' Association (AICOSCA).

At the 45th annual general meeting of AICOSCA, Mr Bajoria said the cottonseed retained for sowing was on the higher side during the current season due to an 18 per cent increase in the area under cotton cultivation. Added to this was the quantity of cottonseed used as cattle-feed, together accounting for16 lakh tonnes. Thus, a record 64 lakh tonnes of cottonseed was available for processing during the current year.

"Gujarat has emerged as the largest cottonseed producing state in the country, followed by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Substantial quantity of cottonseed was also produced in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh," he said.

On the prospects for 2005-06, he said, "It is heading for another bumper crop. Planting in the northern zone is over and the area increase under cotton is estimated at about 14 per cent; besides increased area, higher productivity is expected to contribute to increase in production. A sizable area is reported to have been sown under Bt cotton which has been officially approved for commercial cultivation for the first time this year in this zone."

Monsoon rains have been delayed in the central zone i.e., Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. With the larger area under Bt cotton/hybrids, the unit yield is likely to increase. In the southern zone, bulk sowing of cotton took place in August/September, he added.

He said the total exports of cottonseed by-products were reported at Rs 18.35 crore.

For the first time in a decade, the quantity of cottonseed processed scientifically in the country had crossed 3 lakh tonnes, he said. Only about 4.6 per cent of the available cottonseed are scientifically processed.

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