Changing crop preferences may impact India's cotton output: USDA

The USDA's Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) has projected a two per cent decline in India's cotton production due to various factors. It has projected cotton production at 25.4 million bales of 480 lb (equivalent to 0.453 kg) for 2024-25. Additionally, it has estimated cotton sowing to cover an area of 12.4 million hectares in the country. The report suggests that farmers may shift from cotton to crops with higher returns, such as pulses, maize, and paddy.