The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has released its first estimate of the cotton crop for the new season 2020-21 beginning from October 1, 2020. CAI has estimated cotton crop for the 2020-21 crop year at 356 lakh bales of 170 kg each, which is equivalent to 378.25 lakh running bales of 160 kg each. The crop estimated for 2020-21 season is less by four lakh bales of 170 kg each than the previous year’s crop of 360 lakh bales of 170 kg each (equivalent to 382.50 lakh running bales of 160 kg each). State-wise break up of cotton production and balance sheet for the Season with the corresponding data for the previous cotton season is given in the table.
Reduction in cotton crop for the season is on account of damage reported to the crop in some pockets due to the excess rains and pink bollworm infestation. This is a preliminary estimate and the Crop Committee of the CAI will re-assess the crop as the season progresses.
Yearly balance sheet projected by the CAI Crop Committee estimated total cotton supply till end of the 2020-21 Season at 477.50 lakh bales of 170 kg each (i.e. 507.34 lakh bales of 160 kg each), which consists of the opening stock of 107.50 lakh bales of 170 kg each (114.22 lakh running bales of 160 kg each) at the beginning of the season, crop for the season estimated at 356 lakh bales of 170 kg each (378.25 lakh running bales of 160 kg each) and imports for the season estimated at 14 lakh bales of 170 kg each equivalent to 14.88 lakh running bales of 160 kg each.
Domestic consumption estimated by the CAI is 330 lakh bales of 170 kg each (i.e. 350.62 lakh running bales of 160 kg each) while export of cotton estimated for the Season is 60 lakh bales of 170 kg each equivalent to 63.75 lakh running bales of 160 kg each. The carry over stock estimated at the end on the season on September 30, 2021 is 87.50 lakh bales of 170 kg each equivalent to 93 lakh running bales of 160 kg each.