CAI Crop Committee and stakeholders meet to discuss 2023-24 cotton estimates

Atul S Ganatra, President, CAI, highlighted the necessity of concerted efforts from all stakeholders in increasing cotton yields of the country, which are amongst the lowest in the world, at least to the level of world average cotton yield.

Cotton Association of India (CAI) convened an all India meeting of its National Crop Committee with all stakeholders in Ludhiana on 14 June, 2024.

This meeting was attended by 70 members including CAI Crop Committee members, Presidents/Secretaries of all 11 upcountry State Associations, Mill Members, MNCs, Exporters, Importers, Traders, Brokers and other prominent personalities from cotton and textile value chain in India.

Padma Bhushan S P Oswal, Chairman and Managing Director, Vardhman Group of Companies, shared his outlook on the future of Indian Cotton and Textile Industry and gave his invaluable suggestions on how to overcome the challenges facing the industry. Among other vital suggestions, Oswal also exhorted the need for regular sharing of cotton and textile related data and the necessity of Government intervention in making such regular submission of data compulsory for all stakeholders.

In his address, Atul S Ganatra, President, CAI, highlighted the necessity of concerted efforts from all stakeholders in increasing cotton yields of the country, which are amongst the lowest in the world, at least to the level of world average cotton yield.  He also laid emphasis on adoption of new seed technology, modern agro techniques like drip irrigation and propagating the benefits of using pheromone traps by farmers for early detection of pink bollworm infestation for proper and effective crop protection.

After detailed deliberations and based on the pressing data of various states received from respective state Associations and feedback from all stakeholders, the Committee, by consensus, arrived at the total cotton pressings/crop estimate for the ongoing 2023-24 season at 317.70 lakh bales of 170 kgs. each.  Further, based on the feedback from the stakeholders, the Committee drew cotton balance sheet for eight months i.e. upto 31 May, 2024 and also for the entire season ending 30 September, 2024.