India: Record cotton crop in Gujarat this year, exports may double

Industry news

India: Record cotton crop in Gujarat this year, exports may double

The cotton industry in Gujarat is expecting a bumper crop this season, with Gujarat contributing 12 million cotton bales out of the national output of 38.2 million cotton bales. Saurashtra Ginners Association president Bharat Vala says, this will open up better export opportunities with a good number of enquiries coming from China, Iran, Taiwan, Pakistan and other countries. A good monsoon this year has contributed to the bumper crop in Gujarat, and the cotton ginning industry is expecting 200 new units to come up during this cotton season, from October to September next year.

"We expect about 200 new ginning units to start operation in this cotton year. Higher production of cotton attracts investors to cotton ginning units. All these players belong to Gujarat," says Bharat Vala. Talking about pressing capacity of ginning industry in Gujarat, Vala said pressing capacity is three times higher than production in Gujarat.

According to Saurashtra Ginning Association, there are over 500 ginning units in Saurashtra. Most of them are located in Jasdan, Rajkot, Surendranagar, Halvad, Botad, Dhrangdhra, Amreli, Babara, Padhari and Vankaner areas. Gujarat agriculture minister Govindbhai Patel said, the state government's textile policies have reinvigorated the cotton industry in the state.