The Cotton Association of India (CAI) expects area under the crop to rise by 20-25 per cent in the upcoming planting season across all ten producing states due to high prevailing prices. In a press release, the association also suggested a hike in the minimum support price (MSP) for extra-long staple (ELS) cotton to encourage growers and reduce imports.

Some cotton manufacturers told the association that the orders and demand for cotton seed from dealers across the country has increased by 50-60 per cent and this demand will continue to rise in the coming months.

“Looking at this higher demand for cotton seed and the higher rates for cotton, it looks like the sowing area will increase by 20-25 per cent in all 10 cotton growing states,” CAI president Atul Ganatra told an agriculture ministry meeting recently.

The Cotton Association of India (CAI) expects area under the crop to rise by 20-25 per cent in the upcoming planting season across all ten producing states due to high prevailing prices. In a press release, the association also suggested a hike in the minimum support price (MSP) for extra-long staple (ELS) cotton to encourage growers and reduce imports.

The country’s cotton crop size for this season (September 2021-October 2022) is estimated to be 348 lakh bales of 170 kg each, according to CAI. The carry forward cotton stock last year was 125 lakh bales, while this year, it was 75 lakh bales and now on September 30 this year, it will be 40/45 lakh bales, it said in a press release.

This higher rate of ₹9,000-₹10,000 per quintal of raw cotton (kapas) will attract farmers of other crop like soybean, groundnut and chillies towards cotton in a big way, CAI said.

CAI also suggested raising the MSP of ELS cotton by 25-30 per cent and removal of price control on sale of cotton sowing seed. At present, India is dependent on import of ELS cotton. If price control is removed, the seed company can increase the seed rate and give new technology seed to farmers, which will help increase cotton yield, which now is the lowest in the world—475 kg/ha against the world average of 800 kg/ha.

India’s production in the last five years is at a standstill, at around 350 lakh bales of 170 kg each, but at the same time its cotton consumption has gone up from 310 lakh bales to 345 lakh bales. Therefore, if India fails to raise cotton production, it has to import cotton in a big way, CAI added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)