Weather conditions in next 15-20 days over major cotton producing states would be crucial for the country?s output for the year beginning October 1, industry experts and traders said. Cotton Advisory Board has estimated India?s output for 2010-11 (Oct-Sep) at 32.5 million bales (1 bale=170 kg). Persistent monsoon rains across the country have created fears about the final output being lower than earlier projected. Big cotton producers like Gujarat and Maharashtra have received above normal rains this monsoon season. Experts, however, believe that a better assessment of final output would happen only after observing the weather conditions in next 15-20 days. ?September and October are crucial months for cotton crop. If it rains in October then the crop is likely to be adversely affected,? Chandulal Thakkar of Perfect Cotton said.
