The Hindu Business Line : Cotton outlook bright despite drought

DESPITE the severe drought that has hit five out of the 10 cotton-growing States in the country in the year that has just gone by, cotton scientists project a bright outlook for the crop during the 2002 cotton season.

``The area under cotton has fallen from 9 million hectares (mha) to 7.3 mha, approximately 12 per cent. Speculation is rife that the reduced inflow of seed cotton could trigger the price levels. This would benefit cotton growers in the country in this drought year,'' Dr T.P. Rajendran, Project Coordinator and Head, Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR), Coimbatore, told Business Line.

``CICR's cropping system approach always yearned for cultivation of other crops in the sequence to improve soil properties. The reduction in area under cotton this year is a welcome sign. The institute will look forward to increased productivity of quality fibre, due to implementation of cultivar discipline, appropriate for every area,'' the CICR Head explained.

He said the seed cotton harvested in the North zone comprising Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan was estimated at around 3 million bales (170 kg/bale), while the arrivals (in progress) in the central zone was expected to be in excess of 5.5 million bales. Crop production in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, has been estimated at 2 million bales. ``By adding up the arrivals in Tamil Nadu and Orissa, the overall production could hover around 14.8 million bales', he added.

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