Cotton board pegs this season output at record

The Cotton Advisory Board has estimated cotton output to rise seven per cent to 390 lakh bales (of 170 kg each) in the cotton season ending September 2014. The crop output was 365 lakh bales (lb) last year. With the opening stock of 35 lb the total supply is expected to touch 433 lb (419 lb).

The record output projections by the CAB on Wednesday puts mill consumption at 252 lb (250 lb). Imports are likely halve to 8 lakh bales (15 lakh bales) and exports are pegged at 114 lakh bales (101 lakh bales) this year.

The total demand may touch 401 lakh bales against 385 lakh bales in the same period last year.

Kiran Soni Gupta, Textile Commissioner, said there has been a substantial increase in cotton production largely due to higher yield, especially in Gujarat which recorded a yield of 758 kg/hectare against last year’s 633 kg/hectare.

“The all India average yield has gone up to 565.36 kg/ha (518.03 kg/ha). There is lot of scope to increase the yield further,” she said speaking to media after the Board meeting.

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research is propagating high density cropping in cotton and best farming practices to improve production and yield. The Government is considering setting up cottonseed bank and breeding more seeds to improve availability, she said.

“While there are concerns over deterioration of soil due to use of high yielding seed variety, it was largely felt that the decision on use of cottonseed should be left to farmers. Moreover, agriculture is a State subject and the Union Government has little role to play,” said Gupta.

On delay in monsoon, Gupta said a few members of the Board had expressed concern over the delay, but they were confident that sowing would pick up once the rain revives.

Cotton sowing has been deferred in parts of Maharashtra due to the delay.

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