Gujarat to produce 85 lakh bales of cotton in 2012-13: ICF

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat is likely to see a production of 85 lakh bales of cotton in 2012-13 crop year despite the drought conditions. The statet would lead the country in the cotton output, predicts the Indian Cotton Federation.

The data released by ICF predicts production of 325 lakh bales of cotton in the current crop year. Each bale is of 170 kilograms. Maharashtra is estimated to produce 80 lakh bales, followed by Andhra Pradesh with 68 lakh bales, and Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan that are likely to give 57 lakh bales of crop.

Madhya Pradesh is likely to produce 16 lakh bales this crop year, while Tamilnadu would give 5 lakh bales and another 2 lakh bales would come from Orissa, ICF forecasts.