The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has downwardly revised the country’s cotton output for the ongoing season 2014-15 to 397 lakh bales of 170 kg each from its December 2014 estimate of 400.25 lakh bales, a news agency reported.
The downward revision in projected cotton production is due to a decline in productivity in the central region which includes Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, CAI said.
The central region is now expected to produce 219.25 lakh cotton bales compared to last year’s production of 235.75 lakh bales.
India’s total cotton production in 2013-14 season ending 30 September, 2014 stood at 407.25 lakh bales, according to the CAI.
As per CAI’s projected balance sheet for 2014-15, total cotton supply will be 468.90 lakh bales, and domestic consumption will be 306 lakh bales, which will leave an available surplus of 162.90 lakh bales.
Meanwhile, Cotton Corporation of India is buying cotton from farmers at minimum support price, CAI said.