Cotton production is estimated to grow marginally by 4.56 per cent to 37.2 mn bales (170 kg each) during the season 2013-14 beginning on October 1, 2013, the Cotton Association of India (CAI) said today.

CAI has estimated the cotton crop for the season 2012-13 at 35.58 mn bales. Cotton season runs from October-September. The acreage under cotton is not expected to exceed that of the cotton season 2012-13, CAI said in a release issued here. However, timely rains will result in higher yields. Gujarat, the highest yielding state in India, has seen an increase of over 10 per cent in acreage on the back of a good monsoon.

All other cotton growing states have also received a good rainfall this monsoon as against a below average rainfall in 2012-13.