The cotton production for the 2017-18 season is expected to be 367 lakh bales, of 170 kg each according to the January estimates of Cotton Association of India (CAI). The cotton crop estimate for the ongoing season is lower by eight lakh bales due to severe infestation of the cotton crop by pink bollworm, CAI said in a release here. To tackle this, farmers in several areas in Maharashtra and Telangana have uprooted their cotton crop without waiting for further pickings as advised by scientists, it added. However, the estimate is higher than last year (2016-17) production, which was 337.25 bales. Total cotton supply for the season was at 417 lakh bales, including the opening stock of 30lakh bales at the beginning of the season and the imports which is estimated at 20 lakh bales for 2017-18 crop year, CAI said. Domestic consumption is estimated to be 320 lakh bales while exports for the season is likely to be 55 lakh bales. The carry over stock at the end of this season on September 30, is estimated to be 42 lakh bales, CAI added.
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