INDIA WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WORLD IN COTTON PRODUCTION UNTIL 2030

In the decade ahead till 2030, India (25 per cent), China (22 per cent), USA (15 percent) and Brazil (10 per cent) in that order will continue to dominate the global cotton production which is expected to reach 28.4 million tonnes (mt), while five Asian countries — China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Vietnam — will account for 75 per cent of the total mill consumption (28.3 mt) during the period, the latest OECD-FAO report on Agriculture Outlook 2021-2030 has forecast.

By 2030, India’s cotton production is projected to expand to 7.2 mt (approximately 43 million bales of 170 kg each) compared with current output of 6 mt. The OECD-FAO Outlook assumes a growth in yield that reflects increased use of smart mechanisation, varietal development, and pest management practices. Bangladesh, Vietnam, China, Turkey and Indonesia will continue to be major importers of the fibre. Growing demand from the domestic apparel industry continues to spur investments in the sector. Indian policymakers must take cognisance of the challenges and work towards ensuring higher production through improved yields and generating genuine export surplus to feed the world market, writes Gautam Gambhir.