‘Mill performance points to good year’
Cotton production this season might be less than that seen last year. According to provisional estimates made by the Cotton Advisory Board, which met on November 22, the production from October 2018 to September 2019 is estimated to be 361 lakh bales as against 370 lakh bales last season.
While the total area under cotton for last year was 124.29 lakh hectares, it was 122.38 lakh hectares for this season. The average yield (kg per hectare) has also reduced from 506.07 to 501.47.
Cotton demand by textile mills, including small-scale units, might be slightly higher this year at 305 lakh bales from 303 lakh bales last year.
K. Selvaraju, secretary general of Southern India Mills’ Association, who took part in the Board’s meeting, said that while there is not much change in area, parts of cotton growing areas in Gujarat and Maharashtra experienced shortfall in rains.
This might hit cotton production.
However, crop estimates are provisional and can change in the coming months. With a better domestic market, the performance of textile mills has improved after March. So, cotton demand by the mills is projected to be higher. It is likely to be a comfortable year for both farmers and the industry, he said.

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