India's cotton production estimated to drop to 7-year low in 2024-25

The ministry's production statistics reveal that India’s cotton production was 280.42 lakh bales in 2018-19. Subsequently, production rose to 360.65 lakh bales in 2019-20, followed by 352.48 lakh bales in 2020-21, 311.18 lakh bales in 2021-22, 336.60 lakh bales in 2022-23, and 325.22 lakh bales in 2023-24.

India’s cotton output is expected to suffer due to lower production and late, untimely rains in the central and southern states. States such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, which contribute over 70 per cent of the country's cotton production, have been particularly affected.

Additionally, the country’s cotton acreage has reduced to 112.757 lakh hectares this season, according to the ministry's sowing report. Farmers planted BT cotton on 106.636 lakh hectares and non-BT cotton on 6.121 lakh hectares, compared to a total of 123.713 lakh hectares in the previous season, 2023-24. The ministry had set a target of 129.93 lakh hectares for the current season. The current acreage is not only a multi-year low but also falls below the five-year average of 124.875 lakh hectares.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)