The Indian textile ministry’s committee on cotton production and consumption has projected the country’s cotton production at 357 lakh bales (each of 170 kg) for 2019-20, with a rise of about 2 per cent in the yield at 453.82 kg per hectare as against 444.74 kg last year. In its official estimates for cotton crop and sowing, the newly-formed committee projected India’s closing stock for 2019-20 at 105.44 lakh bales following a sharp dip in consumption by mills and small scale industries.

The committee was formed after the Cotton Advisory Body (CAB) was abolished.

The committee, which met on September 14, reported a sharp jump in cotton yield in Maharashtra with over 11 per cent rise at 337.6 kg per hectare (ha), as against 304.29 kg per ha last year. While the yield has declined in North India by about 14 per cent on average over the last year, the same has increased in southern India with an average about 15 per cent jump over last year, said an official release.