Cotton output is likely to increase to 345 lakh bales in 2016-17 (October to September period) as compared to the last year. The total production in 2015-16 stood at 332 lakh bales.
The Textile Commissioner expects a better crop due to better yield even though the area under cultivation has dropped significantly. The production is also expected to increase as there were less pest attacks, including white fly in Punjab, Haryana and pink ball worms in Gujarat.
The area under cotton plantation is estimated to decline to 108.45 lakh hectares from 122.92 lakh hectares in the previous year. The Commissioner expects that due to effective government intervention the area under cotton will increase to 119 lakh hectares or even more in 2017-18.