Cotton output may decline 11% this year on drought in major growing states

Gujarat and Maharashtra impacted most, second and third pickings may take a get impacted; cotton price may swing in coming weeks

The country’s cotton output is likely to decline 11 per cent this year due to crop damage in major producing states like Maharashtra and Gujarat. 

The two states contribute nearly half of the cotton output in India.

Analysts estimate total cotton output at 32.5-33 million bales (of 170 kgs each) for the crop year October 2018-September 2019, down from 36.5 million bales reported in the previous year. The premier industry body, the Cotton Association of India (CAI), in its October estimates, forecast cotton output at 34.3 million bales for the season 2018-19.

The November rainfall, known as northeast rainfall season in trade parlance,