Poor yields caused by use of outdated technology for BT cotton seeds and erratic weather and pests have lowered India's 2023-24 cotton production to a 15-year low due, said Atul Ganatra, President, Cotton Association of India (CAI), at its Annual General Meeting.
India’s cotton production declined by 8 per cent to 294.10 lakh bales of `170 kg each this year as compared to last year. This has tightened our balance sheets adds Ganatra.
According to Ganatra, the biggest challenge before Indian cotton traders is increasing n production. This year, India’s lint production is expected to drop to 396 kg of lint per hectare i.e 2.33 bales of170 kg each per hectare which is very low compared to the world’s average yield of 675 kg lint per hectare, he adds.
The main reason behind this is the use of outdated BT seed technology, opines Ganatra. Climate change and El Nino are also hurting India’s cotton crop in a big way as 73 per cent of its area is non-irrigated. Also pink ball worms’ attacks lower yields, he adds.
The government’s policy of granting subsidies for mills expansion is helping boost their capacities. Cotton consumption in India is also expanding with the addition of almost 20 lakh spindles each year, Ganatra notes.
