India’s cotton production may increase by over 6 per cent to a record 25 million bales in 2010-11 season if the country receives normal monsoon this year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has forecast.
Cotton output is pegged at 23.5 million bales (one bale equals 170 kg) in 2009-10 marketing season (August-July).
“Assuming normal 2010 monsoon, cotton production in India’s marketing year 2010-11 is forecast to increase to a record 25 million bales on expected record planting and improved yields,” the USDA said in a report.
The Department noted that the area under cotton is forecast to increase marginally to a record 10.3 million hectares from 10.26 million hectares provided there is “timely and well distributed monsoon at the time of planting”.
Cotton area in most growing states is forecast slightly higher than last year except in Gujarat and Maharashtra, where farmers may revert to traditional crops, the report said.
“Planting intentions for 2010-11 cotton crop will be favourably influenced by comparatively strong cotton prices and relatively stable yields (realisation) vis-a-vis other competing crops during the marketing year 2009-10,” USDA said.
More From This Section
Productivity is also expected to rise by 6 per cent at 528 kg per hectare in the next season.
“With the area under Bt cotton and improved varieties now reaching the peak (90 per cent of the total area), the prospect for future growth in productivity is limited as most cotton is grown under rainfed conditions and small size of land holdings,” the report noted.
Although, potential for a further increase in yields exists, farmers will have to make large investments on production technologies to achieve better management of irrigation, fertilisers and micro nutrients, it added.