India’s cotton output for 2017-18 is estimated at about seven per cent higher than the previous year’s output. The season may end with exports of 70 lakh bales. Higher international prices would drive up shipments. Production of Indian cotton crop for the cotton season 2017-18 is estimated to be 8.11 per cent higher from the previous year owing to the increase in area under cotton cultivation by almost 13 per cent.

Production estimates were lower in the beginning of the season as the board expected damage to the crop from bollworm attack. Pink bollworm attacked cotton crops in Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The pest attacks not only destroyed large amounts of crop but also impacted the quality of the remainder produce.

The high prices of cotton domestically and internationally would further force the consumption to either remain stagnant or slightly at the lower side. So consumption figures may not exceed beyond 316 lakh bales. The closing stock will be quite sufficient for the textile sector to smoothly run their units throughout the year.

Farmers will be encouraged to adopt global practices such as adequate spacing between plantations, avoiding bushiness etc., which will promote cotton production and improve farmers’ income.