Cotton production to fall by 5.7 per cent: Cotton Association of India

PUNE: The Cotton Association of India ( CAI) has estimated cotton production in 2015-16 to fall to 362 lakh bales of 170 kg each from 382.75 lakh bales in 2014-15, a decline of 5.7%.

CAI has released its November estimate of the cotton crop for the 2015-16 season, which began on October 1 2015. The CAI has placed its November estimate of the cotton crop for the 2015-16 season at 362 lakh bales of 170 kilogram each.

The projected balance sheet drawn by the CAI estimated total cotton supply for the season 2015-16 at 454.65 lakh bales while the domestic consumption is estimated at 318.00 lakh bales thus leaving an available surplus of 136.65 lakh bales.

The CAI has estimated reduction in the production as well as consumption of cotton in the country during the cotton season 2015-16. "The reduction in the consumption of cotton in India during the crop year 2015-16 is expected to offset decrease in cotton production to some extent," stated a CAI release.

The industry body has estimated the cotton demand to reduce from 375 lakh bales last year to 318 lakh bales in the current cotton year. It has estimated cotton production to fall to 362 lakh bales in 2015-16 as compared to 382.75 lakh bales in 2014-15.

Production is expected to fall to 43 lakh bales in north zone from 53.50 lakh bales produced last year, while the central and south zones are expected to get production of 201.50 lakh bales and 111.50 lakh bales respectively, down from 204.50 lakh bales and 118.75 lakh bales in that order.