Cotton acreage likely to dip by 10-15 pc this season: Textile Ministry

COIMBATORE: Amid scanty rainfall this year, the area under cotton cultivation in India is expected to decline by 10 to 15 per cent from the present 122 lakh hectares during this season (October-September), a top Textile Ministry official said today.

However, there was no fear for any reduction in the production of cotton or availability, since the productivity in the major belts of Gujarat and Maharashtra, would compensate for the fall in the acreage, A B Joshi, Textile Commissioner, Mumbai, told reporters here.

The likely reduction in acreage was not only due to deficit monsoon but also farmers going by price perception for their crop, Joshi said.

On the availability of the raw material for the coming season, he said global cotton availability has been in excess of demand and the imported cotton is found to be four to five cents/pence cheaper than the domestic cotton.

According to preliminary estimate report, 12 lakh bales of cotton were imported so far, he said.

On continued exports under Open General Licence (OGL), Joshi said, "OGL will continue, as it is the policy of the government".