India Lowers Cotton Output Estimate for the 2010/11 Season

New estimates from India’s Cotton Advisory Board (CAB) reflect a reduction in the 2010/11 cotton crop.
According to the latest estimate, production in 2010/11 (October 2010- September 2011) is expected to be 31.2 million bales (170 kg each — 1.7 million bales fewer than CAB’s previous estimate issued on Jan. 6, when output was expected to total 32.9 million bales.

Growers in India are expected to plant 11.16 million hectares of cotton this season, with an average yield of about 475.2 kg per hectare:
The Central Zone comprising of the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh is expected to produce 20.1 million bales.
The Southern Zone comprising of the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu is expected to produce 6.8 million bales.

The three largest cotton producing states will be Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh with 10.2 million bales, 8.2 million bales, and 5.3 million bales respectively. The cotton area in Maharashtra is estimated to be 3.97 million hectares, while Gujarat is estimated at 2.63 million hectares. Gujarat is expected to have an average yield of 658.6 kg/ha.