The Hindu Business Line : Record cotton crop seen next season — Advisory boards pegs production at 213 lakh bales

THE Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) on Tuesday estimated a record cotton crop of around 213 lakh bales (of 170 kg) for the 2004-2005 season (October-September), up 20 per cent over the current season's figure of 177 lakh bales.

Cotton output during the current season has finally been put at 177 lakh bales against 167.50 lakh bales the previous year as estimated by the Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) on March 10 this year, according to Mr Subodh Kumar, Textiles Commissioner.

"Looking at the current crop condition, cotton crop for the new season is expected to reach a record level of 213 lakh bales thanks to good weather. Consumption will also increase to around 190 lakh bales as expansions are taking place. Prospect for exports looks good as cotton quality this year is export-worthy," Mr Subodh Kumar told newsmen.

Total acreage under cotton in the country is projected at 90.86 lakh hectares compared with 77.85 lakh hectares during 2003-04, up nearly 17 per cent.

For the season 2003-04, the combined crop in the northern region (Punjab, Haryana and Ganganagar tracts in Rajasthan) is estimated to be around 31 lakh bales, higher from the last figure of 29 lakh bales.

In the central region (Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh), total crop is estimated to be 100.50 lakh bales compared to 93 lakh bales.

The total crop in the southern region (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka) is estimated to be around 33 lakh bales, same as the previous level.

The crop estimates were raised for Gujarat to 50 lakh bales (from the previous CAB figure of 46 lakh bales), Maharashtra to 31 lakh bales (31.50 lakh bales), Madhya Pradesh 19.50 lakh bales (16 lakh bales), Andhra Pradesh 26 lakh bales (26 lakh bales), Karnataka 4 lakh bales (4 lakh bales), Tamil Nadu 3.50 lakh bales (3.5 lakh bales), Punjab 11 lakh bales (10.50 lakh bales), Haryana 11.50 lakh bales (11 lakh bales), Rajasthan 8.50 lakh bales (7.5 lakh bales) and others 1 lakh bales (1 lakh bales). The CAB put the total availability at 209 lakh bales against the previous estimate of 200.50 lakh bales.

On the demand side, there has been upward movement. Mill consumption is estimated to be 150 lakh bales as against 143 lakh bales. Non-mill consumption would be 12 lakh bales and small scale industries' consumption at 13 lakh bales as against 12 lakh bales. Thus, the total disappearance is estimated at 183 lakh bales, leaving a carryover stock of 26 lakh bales.

The mills are happy over the record projection for cotton production. "We are on way to touch a production of 350 lakh bales by 2010," said Mr D.K. Nair, Secretary-General, Indian Cotton Mills Federation.

"The area under cotton has gone up substantially, while yield is also seen going up," he said.

"The efforts of the Union Government and cotton development research associations are also paying dividends," he said.