Cotton production in Gujarat is expected to increase by 10-12 percent in the upcoming cotton season, which begins in October. Despite lesser acreage, market participants predict output to climb in 2021-22 due to increased yields following a recent run of rain and favourable meteorological conditions.
So far, the weather has stayed favourable for the cotton harvest. “Although the area under cotton cultivation is lower than last year, the state’s own production is anticipated to climb by up to 10% this year since cotton yield is predicted to improve,” said Arun Dalal, an Ahmedabad-based cotton dealer.
Gujarat is expected to produce 105 lakh bales (one bale equals 170 kg) of cotton in the kharif season of 2021-22. The state agriculture department’s latest data shows that about 22.51 lakh hectares of land have been brought under cotton cultivation this year. As against this, the acreage was a tad higher at 23 lakh hectare last year. There are no reports of pest infestation as well as favourable weather conditions for cotton cultivation.