2016-2017年度，印度将生产3450万包棉花

2016-2017年度，印度将生产3450万包棉花

2016 -2017年度，只要有更好的天气条件，印度预计将生产近3450万包的棉花作物，根据印度棉花协会(CAI)。2013-2014年度，该国棉花生产达4000万包，2014-2015年度降至3860万包，2015-2016年度则降至3380万包。

在当前收成年度，有望提高生产率，因为在印度棉花种植区的天气条件比较有利,CAI的前总统Dhiren Sheth在孟买举行的协会的年度大会上说。

白粉虱攻击印度北部地区是2015-2016年度作物骤降的一个主要原因。虽然该国棉花的生产率低于世界平均生产力，但是政府计划和科学研究将有助于很快实现平均生产率，Sheth补充道。

2015-2016作物年，棉花价格的低水平导致农民生产较低价格实现，致使在接下来的季节，棉花种植面积减少超过10%，他说。

棉花发展理事会(DOCD)估计，2015-2016年度，棉花种植的英亩数将从1187.7万公顷下降至1050万公顷，Sheth说。

Sheth还表示，需要大幅提高基础设施，来同步与国际贸易的规范。CAI有11个实验室来帮助在棉花种植中心的农民，并提供必要的服务和测试设施。另一个实验室很快由协会建立。

India may produce 345 lakh bales cotton in 2016-17: CAI

India is projected to produce nearly 345 lakh bales of cotton in the crop year 2016-17 owing to better weather conditions, according to the Cotton Association of India (CAI). The country’s cotton production touched four crore bales during 2013-14, and fell to 386 lakh bales and 338 lakh bales in crop years 2014-15 and 2015-16, respectively.

Improvements in productivity during the current crop year are expected due to favourable weather conditions in the cotton growing regions of India, said Dhiren Sheth, former president of CAI, at the annual general meeting of the association in Mumbai.

White fly attack in the northern region of India was one of the main reasons for the extreme reduction in the crop during 2015-16. Though the productivity of cotton in the country is below the world average productivity mark, government initiatives and scientific research would help achieve the average productivity mark soon, added Sheth.

Lower levels of cotton prices during the crop year 2015-16 resulted in lower realization of prices for the produce by farmers, leading to a reduction of more than 10 per cent in acreage under cotton during the following season, he said.

Directorate of Cotton Development (DOCD) has estimated the acerage under cotton to reduce from 118.77 lakh hectares in 2015-16 to 105 lakh hectares this year, said Sheth.

Sheth also said that a huge boost in infrastructure is required for being in sync with the international trading norms. CAI has 11 laboratories to help farmers in cotton growing centres and provide the required services and testing facilities. Another laboratory will soon be established by the association.