AHMEDABAD: The output is expected to increase in 2021-22 due to the improved yield following recent spell of rain and favourable climatic condition. Cotton production in Gujarat is likely to grown by 10-12% in the new cotton season beginning October.
Weather conditions have remained favourable for cotton crop. Although the area under cotton cultivation is lower than last year, the state’s own production is likely to increase by up to 10% as cotton yield is expected to improve this year,” said Arun Dalal, a cotton broker from Ahmedabad.
A recent pan-India survey conducted by a Mumbai-based company dealing in cotton pegged Gujarat’s production at 105 lakh bales (one bale equals 170 kg) in 2021-22. The state’s total cotton crop output had stood at 93.50 lakh bales, according to the Cotton Association of India (CAI) in 2020-21.
The state agriculture department’s latest data shows that about 22.51 lakh hectares of land have been brought under cotton cultivation this kharif season. As against this, the acreage was a tad higher at 23 lakh hectare last year.
The crop scenario is also encouraging in Maharashtra, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. As these states have limited ginning capacity, their cotton comes for ginning in Gujarat and the same is covered under the overall crop output of the state.