Cotton output may fall 4.7% due to scant rainfall, pink bollworms: CAI

Indian farmers have adopted genetically-modified seeds known as Bt cotton that are resistant to bollworms

Cotton production in 2018-19 is likely to fall 4.7 per cent from the previous season to 34.8 million bales, as scant rainfall and an attack of pink bollworms are expected to squeeze crop yields, the head of a leading trade body told Reuters.
 
The drop in output could limit exports from the world’s biggest producer of the fibre amid rising demand from top consumer China and in turn support global prices, which are hovering near their lowest level in more than nine months hit last week.
 
“In Gujarat, we are expecting a big drop in production due to