Lower Cotton Projections Raise Concerns in Textile Sector
By 2024-11-21 10:55:08
Concerns in the Textile Sector Are Raised by Lower Cotton Projections
The textile sector is voicing apprehensions over a dip in cotton production this year, driven by reduced sowing areas. Cotton associations estimate India’s cotton output at 302 lakh bales (1 bale equals 170 kg).
In Gujarat, a key cotton-growing state, cultivation has shrunk to 23.71 lakh hectares, down from 26.82 lakh hectares last year. Industry experts stress the urgent need to introduce new seed varieties to boost productivity, given the state’s robust ginning and spinning infrastructure.
Agricultural department data shows Gujarat’s cotton cultivation area fluctuating in recent years, from 25.49 lakh hectares in 2022 to 26.82 lakh hectares in 2023, before falling to 23.71 lakh hectares in 2024. A senior agriculture department official explained, “Crop damage from pests has lowered productivity and delayed arrivals. Many farmers have switched to groundnut this year for better returns.”
Reflecting this shift, groundnut cultivation in Gujarat surged to 19.08 lakh hectares, up from 16.35 lakh hectares the previous year.
