Pest attack, low yield to hit cotton crop

Following low arrivals, with falling yield due to pest attack, the cotton crop is set to fall significantly, say observers.

Clarity is expected in a few weeks on the extent of damage the pink bollworm has done to the standing crop, especially in Maharashtra and Telangana. This had also happened last year in Gujarat and three years earlier in Haryana. Its gravity is higher this year; in disease-prone districts, farmers are selling damaged crop at 10-15% less.

Cotton Association of India (CAI) has projected the 2017-18 crop at 37.5 million bales (170 kg each). Atul Ganatra, president of CAI, said, "Based on