India to be world's largest cotton producer

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that the global cotton production during 2015-16 has been estimated at 23.68 million tonnes, down 8.6 per cent versus the previous season.

With the domestic cotton production estimated at ~400 lakh bales, India is expected to emerge as the largest cotton producer in the world in 2015-16, reports a business daily.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that the global cotton production during 2015-16 has been estimated at 23.68 million tonnes, down 8.6 per cent versus the previous season. 

Cotton production in China and the US has been estimated to fall by 13.3 per cent and 17.7 per cent, respectively.

USDA estimates suggest that India's cotton production would be ~400 lakh bales of 170 kg each, lifting the nation to the numero uno position, according to the financial newspaper.

USDA expects India's cotton yield to fall to 524 kg per hectare versus the yield of 527 kg in the previous season due to second successive deficient monsoon, the daily adds.