Gujarat expects boom in cotton production

Rajkot, May 31 (ANI): With a production of over ten million bales, Gujarat expects to record the highest cotton production in the country for the third year in a row.

After China, India is the second largest producer of cotton in the world.

This year India produced total 30 million bales, out of which 10.5 million has been produced in Gujarat. Saurashtra region of Gujarat has contributed around seven million bales this season.

Gujarat leads the country in cotton production. While the sowing area is larger in Maharashtra the production is more in Gujarat.

"In 2009/10, Gujarat cotton production will really reach 1.05 crore bales. From last three years we are the leading producer of cotton in India," said Bharat Vala, president, Saurashtra Ginners' Association.

BT cottonseeds have helped the farmers to increase cotton production.

" This year we are expecting a production of ten million bales which ten years ago was almost three millions. The production has increased from the last three years with the entrance of BT cottonseeds. Presently the cotton is yielded in almost 2.7 million hectares of land. Next year we are expected to increase the production land by 5-10 percent. If the climate remains favourable, next year we are expecting to produce 1.15 crore (11.5 million) bales," said Anand Popat, secretary, Saurashtra Ginners Association.

Sowing and harvesting of crop in Gujarat largely depends on rain and the season of cotton generally begins in October and ends in June. (ANI)