Nafed bets heavily on Gujarat, AP to tackle cotton deficit

MUMBAI: In order to tackle a likely cotton deficit, co-operative major Nafed is pressing ahead with its plans to procure the politically-sensitive commodity from Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

Cotton production is expected to dip to 28.5-29.5 million bales in 2008-09 as against the target of 32.3 million bales due to pest attacks and unfavourable weather conditions in some parts of Maharashtra and Gujarat, a top official of the Cotton Association of India said.

The preliminary estimates of Cotton Advisory Board placed cotton production at 32.3 million bales, although the area planted under cotton in 2008-09 was estimated lower by 5% to about 9.2 million hectares, Cotton Association of India president PD Patodia said.