Cotton production in Indian states either declining or stagnant: RBI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently said cotton production in states is either declining or stagnant amid a fear of economic slowdown. 

RBI’s Handbook of Statistics on Indian States 2021-22 said the production in Andhra Pradesh declined from 2.508 million bales (of 170 kg each) to 1.6 million bales in fiscal 2020-21. Production has increased in Rajasthan and Maharashtra.

Gujarat’s cotton production has declined from 8.617 million bales to 7.212 million bales.

India’s total cotton exports were estimated at 4 million bales in FY22, the Committee on Cotton Production and Consumption (COCPC) estimates.

India’s cotton exports account for 10.2 percent of the total global export, according to the statistics provided by the Indian Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF).

In FY21, India’s cotton exports were worth $6.3 billion, with production hitting 352.5 lakh bales.