In its first estimate for the upcoming season beginning October 2015, the Cotton Association of India (CAI) has pegged the country’s cotton production at 380 lakh bales, almost unchanged from the current year’s output of 382-383 lakh bales of 170 kg each. While the area under cotton is likely to decline next season, the yield is likely to increase due to timely rain in cotton growing areas, media reports quoted CAI as saying. For the next season, total cotton supply is estimated at 470 lakh bales while the domestic consumption is expected to be 325 lakh bales, resulting in a surplus of around 145 lakh bales for exports. Region-wise, the central zone comprising Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh is projected to produce around 203 lakh bales, slightly lower than the current season’s output of 204.50 lakh bales. In the northern region including Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, cotton output is expected to go up a little from 53.50 lakh bales in 2014-15 to 55.50 lakh bales next season. The southern region including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is likely to register a drop in cotton crop from 118.75 lakh bales this season to 115.50 lakh bales in 2015-16. In 2013-14 season, the total cotton output was 407.25 lakh bales as per CAI data.
