CAI estimates cotton crop for 2019-20 season at 354.50 lakh bales

The Cotton Association of India (CAI) has released its first estimate of the cotton crop for the season 2019-20 beginning from October 1, 2019.  This is a preliminary estimate. The CAI will reassess the crop again in the first week of December as the season advances and make changes in the crop figures depending on the improvement or worsening of weather conditions.

CAI has estimated its cotton crop for the 2019-20 seasons at 354.50 lakh bales of 170 kg each, which is higher by 42.50 lakh bales compared to the previous year’s crop of 312 lakh bales.

The increase in crop estimated for the 2019-20 season is on account of higher acreage under cotton than that of the previous season.  Moreover, the CAI estimates yields to be higher as the country has received a good rainfall this year. However, there are reports of damage to the crop in some pockets due to flooding on account of excess rains. Keeping this in mind, increase in crop is restricted to 13.62 per cent.
 
Yearly balance sheet projected by the CAI estimated total cotton supply till the end of the cotton season, i.e., up to September 30, 2020 at 403 lakh bales which consists of the opening stock of 23.50 lakh bales at the beginning of the cotton season, crop for the season estimated at 354.50 lakh bales and imports estimated by the CAI at 25 lakh bales. 

Domestic consumption estimated by the CAI for the 2019-20 crop years, i.e., up to September 30, 2020 is 315 lakh bales while the CAI has estimated export of cotton for the season at 42 lakh bales. The carryover stock estimated at the end of the season is 46 lakh bales.