N Maha ginners likely to export cotton directly to B’desh.

Nashik: Cotton ginners in North Maharashtra are in talks with cotton importers from Bangladesh to export the produce directly to the neighbouring country. 

Currently, cotton ginners in North Maharashtra are exporting cotton to Bangladesh via Mumbai-based export houses. 

The Bangladesh Cotton Association has shown interest in directly buying cotton bale from ginners in North Maharashtra and has invited office-bearers of Khandesh Ginners/Pressing Factory Owners’ Association for a meeting in Bangladesh next month. 

The ginners will get Rs 2,000 each more for every 1.78 quintal a bale if they export directly to Bangladesh. 

“We will pass on the benefits to cotton farmers if we start exporting cotton bales directly to Bangladesh. We procure raw cotton directly from farmers and process in our ginning and pressing units. We make a cotton bale from five quintal of raw un-ginned cotton,” Pradeep Jain, president of Khandesh Ginning and Pressing Factory Owners Association, said. 

“The farmers may get Rs 200 per quintal more if we export directly to Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Cotton Association has invited us for a meeting on February 29,” he added. 

Bangladesh is the major importer of Indian cotton. Around 40% of the total cotton from India is exported to Bangladesh. North Maharashtra includes four districts — Nashik, Dhule, Jalgaon and Nandurbar. But three districts Jalgaon, Dhule and Nandurbar are known as Khandesh known for producing good quality cotton. 

On an average the area under cotton cultivation in North Maharashtra is 8.5 lakh hectare. Cotton acreage in Nashik district is only 50,000 hectare, while over 8 lakh hectare is spread in Khandesh. 

While country exports around 50 lakh bales of cotton, North Maharashtra’s contribution is around 5 lakh bales. This year owing to incessant rainfall cotton yield in North Maharashtra reduced by 5%, but production was same as last year due to rise in acreage by 5%. 

The areas under cotton in North Maharashtra increased from 8.5 lakh hectare to 9 lakh hectares this year. 

“China’s internal reserves of cotton have reduced. Hence, China is likely to import around 20 lakh bales of cotton from various countries. Of which, it may import around 10-12 lakh cotton bales from India. Hence, demand is likely to increase. The rate of raw cotton has also increased by Rs 200 per quintal to Rs 5,300 per quintal on Sunday, against Rs 5,100 per quintal on Monday,” Jain said.