CAI estimates 357 lakh bales of cotton for Dec
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, January 14
The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has released its December estimate of the cotton crop for the 2015-16 season, which began on October 1, 2015. The CAI has placed its December estimate of the cotton crop for the 2015-16 season at 357 lakh bales of 170 kg each.
Earlier too, it had reduced its cotton estimate when it placed its November estimate of the cotton crop for the 2015-16 season at 362 lakh bales of 170 kg each.
The projected balance sheet drawn by the CAI estimated total cotton supply for the season 2015-16 at 449.65 lakh bales while the domestic consumption is estimated at 315 lakh bales, thus leaving an available surplus of 134.65 lakh bales. A statement containing the state-wise estimate of the cotton crop and the balance sheet for the season 2015-16 with the corresponding data for the previous crop year is enclosed.
The arrival of cotton during the ongoing 2015-16 crop year is estimated to be lower than those up to the same period last year. This is due to the fact that the farmers are holding back seed cotton expecting better prices. The arrivals are lower this year also due to the relatively lower crop estimated for the 2015-16 crop year compared to last year.
In Punjab, the CAI obtained cotton crop estimate of only 9 lakh bales this year while in Haryana, it got 17 lakh bales whereas last year it got an estimated cotton crop of about 13 lakh bales from Punjab and in Haryana, 23.50 lakh bales of cotton crop. The CAI has estimated reduction in the production as well as consumption of cotton in the country during the cotton season 2015-16.
