Cotton production may exceed previous estimates

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar recently said that, the cotton production for the 2010-11 seasons is likely to remain somewhat above the earlier estimates of 33.5 million bales.

The government has imposed a ceiling on cotton export for the 2010-11 marketing season from October 2010 to September 2011 at 5.5 million bales, whereas 3.8 million bales have already been exported by now.

However, when inquired about the rise expected in the production, the Minister said that, it won’t go much beyond the earlier expectations, rather would be slightly higher.

He further added that the government would take care of the interests of the country’s handloom industry which is primarily underprivileged and represents minority.