The production of cotton in the country is estimated at 361 lakh bales (of 170 kg each) in the 2013-14 season, as per estimates arrived by Indian Cotton Federation (ICF). Though the crop has been delayed, it is likely to pick up and prices are expected to ease. Gujarat will be the top producer with 125 lakh bales, followed by Maharashtra with production of 70 lakh bales and Andhra Pradesh with 65 lakh bales.
The Central Zone, comprising the states of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, would have a crop size of 55 lakh bales each, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka with 18 lakh bales each, Tamil Nadu with 5 lakh bales and Odisha with 3 lakh bales.
Further, the Cotton Advisory Board has pegged production at 375 lakh bales while the Cotton Association of India estimated the output at 378 lakh bales.